My Four Green Fields

This article is about the stained glass art work. For the folk-song, see Four Green Fields.

My Four Green Fields, is the name of a noted and acclaimed^[1] 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.^[2]

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:^[1]

The My Four Green Fields must always rank amongst [Evie Hone’s] most important [works], but it is notable that a feeling of new assurance entered into the features and disposition of the figures. It was almost as if the curvaceous and rounded line of the Byzantine world were added to the Northern Gothic style which the artist seemed to possess in common with the medieval craftsmen of Chartres and Poitiers.

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.

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Tate Britain - Evie Hone, 1894-1955
2. ^ Taoiseach Website

The window was taken into storage by The Abbey Stained Glass Studios, Kilmainham, Dublin 8, at he request of the Irish OPW. The window was completely renovated by The Abbey Stained Glass Studios, not Abbey Glass as stated in the article.

External links

• UCC Image of Four Green Fields in situ at Government Buildings