Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Mr Charlie Flanagan, TD, today accepted the gift of a bust of WB Yeats from the Bulbulia Bequest. The bust will later be presented to the people of India by the Irish Embassy in New Delhi in recognition of the strong cultural links between our two countries and Yeats’ close friendship with the Indian poet and fellow Nobel Laureate, Rabindranath Tagore.
In 2011, the Government of India presented Ireland with a bust of Mr Tagore, which is now on display in St. Stephen’s Green.
Minister Charlie Flanagan, who received the bust today at a presentation ceremony in Iveagh House, the headquarters of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, said:
“This gift of a bust of WB Yeats to the people of India is a kind and thoughtful initiative of sculptor Rory Breslin and the Bulbulia Bequest. It is a particularly fitting gift, as Yeats was influenced by India at various stages of his life. He was a friend of the celebrated Indian poet and fellow Nobel Laureate, Rabindranath Tagore.
“Ireland and India enjoy excellent relations and our two countries share many common experiences in our respective histories of 20th century national development. At nearly 17,000 people, the Indian community is the largest from Asia currently living in Ireland and their contribution to this country is much valued.”
Dr Abdul Bulbulia of the Bulbulia Bequest said:
"I am very pleased to have been able to support this cultural initiative which will further enhance the growing and important links between Ireland and India."
The Yeats bust was sculpted in bronze by Rory Breslin.
Two captioned photos are attached.
ENDS
Press Office
10 September 2014
Note to Editors:
• Today’s event marked the handover of the bust of WB Yeats by the Bulbulia Bequest to the Minister. It is a gift from the Bulbulia Bequest and sculptor Rory Breslin to the people of India. The Bequest has made this gift in response to the donation of a bust of Indian Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore to Ireland by the Indian Government in 2011.
• The bust of Rabindranath Tagore was subsequently unveiled in St. Stephen’s Green by then Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Eamon Gilmore, TD, and the Minister of State for External Affairs of India, Preneet Kaur.
• Yeats was introduced to Tagore in 1912. He wrote an extensive introduction to the first English publication of Tagore's work called Gitangali, an Offering of Songs, which effectively launched Tagore and his work in the English-speaking world. Tagore became the first non-European to be awarded the Nobel Prize.
• Photo: accompanying the Minister in the photo are Abdul Bulbulia; HE Radhika Lol Lokesh, Indian Ambassador to Ireland; sculptor Rory Breslin; and Arthur Duff, President of the Friends of the National Collections of Ireland, and an architect who trained in India.
• The Bulbulia Bequest is a philanthropic initiative, spearheaded by Abdul and Katharine Bulbulia. Over the years it has supported many students from diverse backgrounds whether studying medicine or an aspect of the humanities. Established artists have also been in receipt of awards through the RHA.
• The Bulbulia Family originates from the Indian State of Gujarat. Dr Bulbulia's branch migrated to South Africa in the early 1900s and Abdul himself came to Ireland in 1959 to study medicine at RCSI. He married Katharine, a former Senator, and they made their home in Waterford. Dr Bulbulia has a very keen interest in the arts, having been a member of the Board of Governors and Guardians of the National Gallery of Ireland for 10 years and is a Founder Member of the Art in Health Movement which began over twenty years ago in University Hospital Waterford.
• Guests of the Bulbulias included Mr Robert and Sarah Guinness, of the family which donated Iveagh House.