I never intended to offend, says ‘Our Lady’ artist

MEXICAN-BORN artist Alma Lopez arrived in Ireland for the first time yesterday to be greeted with a storm of protest and controversy.

Protestors wielding placards and rosary beads stood outside the gates of University College Cork (UCC) as she made preparations to display her image, Our Lady of Guadalupe, as part of an academic conference which opens today.

But instead of discussing Chicana culture, conference organiser Professor Nuala Finnegan, and Ms Lopez, spent the day conducting a round of media interviews.