My Four Green Fields
Encyclopedia
My Four Green Fields, is the name of a noted and acclaimed stained glass window
, the work of Irish artist, Evie Hone
. The window depicts the four provinces of Ireland
and, though the composition is complex, emblems and symbols of the four provinces can be clearly seen. It was commissioned in 1939 by the Irish Government
's Department of Industry and Commerce for the Irish Pavilion at the 1939 New York World's Fair
. Later, from 1960 to about 1983 the window prominently featured at the Head Office of the Irish national transport company, Coras Iompair Éireann
on O'Connell Street
. The window was then taken into storage by Abbey Glass in Kilmainham
, Dublin at the request of the Irish Office of Public Works
.
In the 1980s, a decision was made to renovate Government Buildings
in Dublin, the office of the Taoiseach
. The window was fitted into its current position, the main window in the entrance hall. The window had been completely renovated by Abbeyglass. This involved dismantling the work, cleaning of each piece of glass individually and then releading.
Concerning My Four Green Fields, the Tate Gallery in London has said:
Since its installation at Government Buildings, the window, light streaming through it, has been the backdrop to innumerable press conferences and meetings between Irish politicians and foreign dignitaries. The window formed the backdrop to Taoiseach
Bertie Ahern
's resignation speech in April 2008.
Stained glass
The term stained glass can refer to coloured glass as a material or to works produced from it. Throughout its thousand-year history, the term has been applied almost exclusively to the windows of churches and other significant buildings...
, the work of Irish artist, Evie Hone
Evie Hone
Evie Hone was a Dublin born Irish painter and stained glass artist.She was related to Nathaniel Hone and Nathaniel Hone the Younger. Her most important works are probably the East Window for the Chapel at Eton College, Windsor and My Four Green Fields, now located in Government Buildings...
. The window depicts the four provinces of Ireland
Provinces of Ireland
Ireland has historically been divided into four provinces: Leinster, Ulster, Munster and Connacht. The Irish word for this territorial division, cúige, literally meaning "fifth part", indicates that there were once five; the fifth province, Meath, was incorporated into Leinster, with parts going to...
and, though the composition is complex, emblems and symbols of the four provinces can be clearly seen. It was commissioned in 1939 by the Irish Government
Irish Government
The Government of Ireland is the cabinet that exercises executive authority in Ireland.-Members of the Government:Membership of the Government is regulated fundamentally by the Constitution of Ireland. The Government is headed by a prime minister called the Taoiseach...
's Department of Industry and Commerce for the Irish Pavilion at the 1939 New York World's Fair
1939 New York World's Fair
The 1939–40 New York World's Fair, which covered the of Flushing Meadows-Corona Park , was the second largest American world's fair of all time, exceeded only by St. Louis's Louisiana Purchase Exposition of 1904. Many countries around the world participated in it, and over 44 million people...
. Later, from 1960 to about 1983 the window prominently featured at the Head Office of the Irish national transport company, Coras Iompair Éireann
Córas Iompair Éireann
Córas Iompair Éireann , or CIÉ, is a statutory corporation of the Irish state, answerable to the Irish Government and responsible for most public transport in the Republic of Ireland and, jointly with its Northern Ireland counterpart, the Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company, between the...
on O'Connell Street
O'Connell Street
O'Connell Street is Dublin's main thoroughfare. It measures 49 m in width at its southern end, 46 m at the north, and is 500 m in length...
. The window was then taken into storage by Abbey Glass in Kilmainham
Kilmainham
Kilmainham is a suburb of Dublin south of the River Liffey and west of the city centre, in the Dublin 8 postal district.-History:In the Viking era, the monastery was home to the first Norse base in Ireland....
, Dublin at the request of the Irish Office of Public Works
Office of Public Works
The Office of Public Works is a State Agency of the Department of Finance in the Republic of Ireland...
.
In the 1980s, a decision was made to renovate Government Buildings
Government Buildings
Government Buildings is a large Edwardian building enclosing a quadrangle on Merrion Street in Dublin, Ireland, in which several key offices of the government of Ireland are located...
in Dublin, the office of the Taoiseach
Taoiseach
The Taoiseach is the head of government or prime minister of Ireland. The Taoiseach is appointed by the President upon the nomination of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas , and must, in order to remain in office, retain the support of a majority in the Dáil.The current Taoiseach is...
. The window was fitted into its current position, the main window in the entrance hall. The window had been completely renovated by Abbeyglass. This involved dismantling the work, cleaning of each piece of glass individually and then releading.
Concerning My Four Green Fields, the Tate Gallery in London has said:
Since its installation at Government Buildings, the window, light streaming through it, has been the backdrop to innumerable press conferences and meetings between Irish politicians and foreign dignitaries. The window formed the backdrop to Taoiseach
Taoiseach
The Taoiseach is the head of government or prime minister of Ireland. The Taoiseach is appointed by the President upon the nomination of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas , and must, in order to remain in office, retain the support of a majority in the Dáil.The current Taoiseach is...
Bertie Ahern
Bertie Ahern
Patrick Bartholomew "Bertie" Ahern is a former Irish politician who served as Taoiseach of Ireland from 26 June 1997 to 7 May 2008....
's resignation speech in April 2008.