Painting captures 1963 clash
They may even gain some inspiration from another kind of artist who recorded the day on which they last made it to the final — a clash that saw them defeated by Kilkenny despite scoring six goals.
The painting by Thomas Ryan, commemorating the last time the teams met in the final 45 years ago in 1963, has just been put up for auction at Adam’s and could fetch up to €20,000.
Intended for sale in mid November in Adam’s Dublin salerooms, the dramatic painting, All-Ireland Hurling Final 1963, Waterford V Kilkenny, is a view looking onto the playing field in Croke Park during the match that Kilkenny won with won four goals and 17 points to Waterford’s six goals and eight points.
Painted in 1963 by one of Ireland’s foremost artists and past president of the Royal Hibernian Academy, the picture captures the last time Waterford was in the All-Ireland Hurling Final and the first since 1910 that a team had lost after scoring six goals. Kilkenny’s Eddie Keher scored 14 of their 17 points, which was also a record at the time.
Commenting on the picture going for auction, James O’Halloran, managing director, Adam’s, said: “It’s a remarkable and perhaps symbolic coincidence that a historic painting celebrating the last time these two important teams met in the final arrives in our salerooms the very same week that they prepare to meet again for the title.
“It comes from a deceased estate in Dublin, is fresh to market and of superb calibre by a well-accomplished contemporary Irish artist. We expect it to be of multiple interest to both Irish art collectors and sports enthusiasts regardless of the result this Sunday, with a pre-sale estimate of €15,000-€20,000.”
Waterford last won the All-Ireland Hurling Final in 1959, when they beat Kilkenny in a replay. This year Kilkenny are seeking their sixth title this decade, and hoping for their first three-in-a-row since that of 1911, 1912 and 1913.
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