Home > Media > Press Release > 21st January 2002

Minister de Valera opens National Gallery Millennium Wing

21st January 2002

Admiring the view, are Síle de Valera, T.D., Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands; Malcom Rogers, Director, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston; Michael Brennan, Managing Director, Eagle Star Life and Fionnuala Croke, Exhibition Manager, National Gallery of Ireland.

Síle de Valera T.D., Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands, today, (Monday 21st January, 2002 at 12 noon) formally opened the Millennium Wing of the National Gallery of Ireland on Clare Street and an exhibition of 69 Impressionist masterpieces entitled, Monet, Renoir and the Impressionist Landscape, on loan from the Museum of Fine Arts, in Boston.

Commenting on the new wing, Minister de Valera T.D. said, "The Millennium Wing signals the beginning of a new era in the history of the National Gallery and will play a pivotal role in the cultural life of Ireland. This architectural landmark will add to and enhance the existing buildings of the National Gallery and will embrace the architectural landscape of Dublin city as a whole. I wish to thank the Board and staff of the Gallery who, through their commitment, have seen the construction of this building through to fruition. Irish people will take pride in this new development which firmly establishes Dublin city amongst the art and cultural capitals of Europe."

Thanking the Minister on behalf of the Gallery's Board of Governors and Guardians, Carmel Naughton, Chairman, said that without the Government and departmental support it would not have been possible to bring such a magnificent exhibition as Monet, Renoir and the Impressionist Landscape to Ireland to inaugurate the new wing. She also thanked Eagle Star for their corporate support of the exhibition.

Today's ceremony was the culmination of a vision, which began back in the 1980s. The success of the project was the result of dedication and determination of the Staff of the National Gallery in seeing the project through. Carmel Naughton also thanked the Office of Public Works for their ongoing support of the Gallery. She also paid special tribute to the generosity of the benefactors and sponsors from the private sector who joined with the EU and the Irish Government in ensuring the financial success of the new wing. The names of the benefactors have been inscribed on a special plaque in the Millennium Wing.

Raymond Keaveney, Director of the National Gallery said "We are expecting over 100,000 people to attend the exhibition over the next three months where they will have an opportunity to survey the magnificent architecture of the new wing which is a monument to the creative talents of the architects, Benson and Forsyth."

With the new wing, the Gallery now has the capacity to mount major international shows as well as freeing up space in the historic building for an expanded display of the Gallery's permanent collection. Visitors to the historic building on Merrion Square will find many delightful surprises in the re arrangement of much of the collection, including new acquisitions and paintings and sculptures that have not been on view for many years due to lack of space. Altogether, there will be up to 700 paintings and some 60 pieces of sculpture on display throughout the Gallery complex.

Ian Stuart, Managing Director, Eagle Star Insurance, said: "We are delighted to be involved with the inaugural exhibition in the Gallery's truly magnificent Wing. I have no doubt that the exhibition, Monet, Renoir and the Impressionist Landscape will be a spectacular success."

The total cost of the Millennium Wing project is approximately €33m. Funding has been provided by the European Regional Development Fund of €9.5m, with additional finance from the Government of €10.9m. Almost €7.6m has been raised by the National Gallery of Ireland Foundation through the private sector and the Gallery has invested €5m from its own resources, in acquiring and managing the site.

"Monet, Renoir and the Impressionist Landscape"
(22 January - 14 April 2002)
National Gallery of Ireland
Millennium Wing, Clare Street, Dublin 2
Organised by the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Corporate Sponsor - Eagle Star

How to Book:
Tickets are on sale now through the booking agent Ticketmaster and from Ticketmaster outlets nationwide. No booking fee applies.

Buy-on-Line: www.ticketmaster.ie

Telephone (24hr):
Republic of Ireland: 1890 925 120
Northern Ireland & UK: 0870 333 6030
There is also an information link through the Gallery's website, www.nationalgallery.ie

Entry to the National Gallery's permanent collection is free and visitors are welcome to explore and enjoy the new Millennium Wing with its shops, restaurants and special presentation of 20th century Irish paintings. The only charge will be for the Impressionist exhibition.

Visit www.nationalgallery.ie.

ENDS

For further information please contact: