Obamas’ letter of thanks for artist

A North Clare artist received a personal letter from one of the world’s most powerful men this week.

 

Michael Hanrahan of Ennistymon opened an official looking envelope last Friday to find a letter from Barack and Michelle Obama. The letter expressed the couple’s “deepest thanks” for a painting by Michael of their recent visit to Ireland. It also contained a signed family portrait of the Obamas with their two daughters.

The painting by Mr Hanrahan was one of two he completed on the historic visit for non-profit group the US Ireland Alliance.

“The painting is one that I did of Obama in College Green when he gave his famous ‘Is feidir linn’ speech. The second painting was of Obama in Hayes’ Bar in Moneygall. I was asked to do these by the president of the US Ireland Alliance, Trina Vargo. I completed the paintings. The Moneygall one is to be auctioned for the George J Mitchell Scholarship Fund. The second one was to be a gift to Barack and Michelle Obama,” Mr Hanrahan outlined.

The former bank manager gave the painting to American ambassador Dan Rooney in February. “I presented it to him and they made arrangements for the painting to be delivered to The White House. To be honest, I wasn’t sure what was happening with it until I got the letter last Friday from the president and his wife thanking me for the gift, which confirms that the painting arrived and they are delighted with it,” he commented.

Mr Hanrahan had been told it was likely he would receive an acknowledgement but was not told from whom it would come or when it might happen.

“I wasn’t surprised so much as absolutely delighted to get the letter. It is a treasured possession now. To get a personal letter from the President of the United States is really something,” he said.

This is not the first letter Mr Hanrahan has received from a head of state. He has letters from the Queen of England and the President of Ireland. He plans to frame the Obama letter and hang it on the wall of his new studio, which officially opens on Old Town Street, Ennistymon, on Saturday evening, beside a letter he received from the Queen of England last year.
Mr Hanrahan has just completed another series of paintings featuring a famous subject.

“I have just finished three paintings of John F Kennedy from when he came to Ireland in 1963. JFK’s only living daughter, Caroline Kennedy, is president of the Kennedy Foundation in Boston. She wrote to me and sent me three images from the 1963 visit. The plan is that one of those will hang in the Kennedy Foundation. This is particularly special too because the 50th anniversary of the visit is next year,” he concluded.