IRISH CULTURE THRIVES IN ARIZONA WITH EXHIBITION OF WORLD-RENOWNED BRIAN P. BURNS COLLECTION OF IRISH PAINTINGS

Opening Night Gala to benefit Irish Cultural Center Library Project

PHOENIX – With an estimated 450,000 Irish and counting living in Arizona, it’s suitable that the Irish Cultural Center of Phoenix’s expansion plans are being celebrated by one of the largest and finest private Irish art collections in the world on exhibit beginning with a black tie preview event to be held at the Phoenix Art Museum March 2nd.

Exhibit beginning with a black tie preview event to be held at the Phoenix Art Museum March 2nd.

Proceeds from the event will benefit the Phoenix Irish Cultural Center’s library project which once built will be an 11,000-square-foot state-of-the-art facility. The library will house a permanent collection of 5,000-6,000 books and materials such as paintings, poetry, music, films, newspapers, magazines, artifacts, etc. The exhibit will be open for viewing March 3rd through April 27th, 2007.

The Brian P. Burns Collection of Irish Paintings features works of mid-nineteenth to mid-twentieth century Irish art by Willian Orpen, Paul Henry, Jack B. Yeats, Walter Osbourne and more. Additionally, the John J. Burns Library at Boston College is loaning rare books and manuscripts to the exhibition by authors such as William Butler Yeats, James Joyce and Samuel Beckett.

“It’s time that Ireland’s contributions to the arts are more celebrated and enjoyed in Phoenix,” said Norman McClelland, Shamrock Foods Company Chairman and Irish Cultural Center Library Committee Co-Chair. “The exhibit will help launch fundraising for the library which will ultimately serve as an exceptional resource to the greater Phoenix area and even the Southwest.”

“Arizona is again proving to be a major player in preserving and celebrating Irish culture,” said Patricia Prior, Irish Cultural and Learning Foundation President. “With this exhibit and corresponding fundraiser, the Irish Cultural and Learning Foundation will make significant strides in the creation of the much anticipated library which will greatly compliment our existing programming.

The Phoenix Irish Cultural Center, a private-public partnership with the City of Phoenix, is located at 1106 N. Central Ave. in downtown Phoenix. For more information about the gala or to make a reservation please call 602.257.1750.

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