Council declines motion on removal of republican art

Athlone town councillors have kicked to touch a motion that a state-owned artwork featuring messages sent by hunger strikers to their families should be removed from the town’s modern art gallery.

Fine Gael Cllr Mark Cooney’s proposal that Shane Cullen’s Fragmens sur le Institutions Republicaines IV be removed from Athlone’s Luan Gallery will now be sent to the gallery’s board for consideration.

The gallery, which opened in November is partly funded by Athlone Town Council and three councillors sit on its board.