In honour of the 100th anniversary of The Friends of the National Collections of Ireland, the Butler Gallery is very pleased to highlight a selection of works gifted to the gallery by the FNCI since its inception in 1946. This display includes, among others, work by Patrick Collins, Evie Hone, Stella Frost, Ferenc Martyn, George Russell and Mary Swanzy.

The Friends of the National Collections of Ireland (FNCI) are a charitable foundation, formed a century ago, in 1924, by the painter Sarah Purser and a group of like-minded philanthropist friends. The group understood the need to support the development of the national collection through the acquisition of important art and objects. The FNCI’s objective was to ensure the representation of both modern European painting and contemporary Irish artists in public institutions through the donation of work to galleries and museums throughout Ireland for the education and enjoyment of the public.

For more information on FNCI: fnci.ie