The National Gallery of Ireland is proud to announce the acquisition of Jack B. Yeats’s iconic painting, Singing ‘The Dark Rosaleen’, Croke Park (1921). This significant addition to the national collection deepens the Gallery’s representation of one of Ireland’s most beloved and influential artists, while offering a poignant reflection on a pivotal moment in Irish history. The painting was purchased in 2024, with special support from the Government of Ireland and a generous contribution from a private donor. It is now on display for visitors to see at the National Gallery of Ireland.

Jack B. Yeats hailed from an extraordinarily creative family. His father, John Butler Yeats, was a gifted portrait painter, his sisters, Lily and Lolly, were accomplished artists, and his brother, W.B. Yeats, was a poet of global renown. After establishing himself as an illustrator and watercolourist during his early career in England, Yeats returned to Ireland in his late thirties, settling permanently and making a decisive shift to oil painting. He worked prolifically, completing more than 1,200 paintings, most of them in the final 15 years of his life, capturing urban and rural subjects with remarkable emotional depth.

The title of this newly acquired work references ‘The Dark Rosaleen (Róisín Dubh)’, a 19th-century adaptation by James Clarence Mangan of an Elizabethan poem, later set to music. In 1921, the same year Yeats painted this picture, Thomas P. Whelan described The Dark Rosaleen as “a passionate address in verse to Ireland, written for a nation that still drank from the cup of sorrow.”

Though Singing ‘The Dark Rosaleen’, Croke Park does not explicitly reference the violent events at Croke Park on 21 November 1920, known as Bloody Sunday, its title, setting, and sombre tone evoke the tragedy and its consequences. On that day, during a Gaelic football match between Dublin and Tipperary, Auxiliaries (a paramilitary unit of the Royal Irish Constabulary) opened fire on spectators, killing 14 civilians, including Tipperary footballer Michael Hogan, and injuring 60 others.

As one of Yeats’s few overtly political works, this painting stands as a deeply personal response from a keenly sensitive individual to a seismic moment in Irish history. While it is unclear whether the scene represents a specific moment Yeats observed, an amalgamation of separate sketches, or a product of his imagination is unclear. However, sketchbooks in the Gallery’s Yeats archive containing multiple depictions of hurling matches at Croke Park indicate Yeats’s familiarity with the setting.

Ballads and ballad singing recur frequently in the work of Jack B. Yeats, who assembled a large collection of songbooks and sheet music. With their historical resonance and emotional power, ballads allowed Yeats to frame contemporary events within a rich social and historical context.

When the painting was first exhibited in 1921, The Freeman’s Journal remarked on the "surge of patriotic emotion that the most dismal surroundings cannot repress." Much like Bachelor’s Walk, In Memory, which the Gallery acquired in 2021, Singing ‘The Dark Rosaleen’, Croke Park is a lament in the aftermath of the episode rather than a depiction of the violence itself.

This acquisition is a testament to the National Gallery of Ireland's commitment to preserving and presenting Ireland’s artistic and historical legacy, ensuring that future generations can engage with the powerful narratives woven into the national collection.

The Gallery would like to thank the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport for their ongoing support. 

Patrick O’Donovan TD, Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport said: “I wish to congratulate the National Gallery of Ireland on the important acquisition Singing ‘The Dark Rosaleen’, Croke Park, by Jack B. Yeats, a very significant work by one of Ireland’s most celebrated artists.  In addition to the artistic quality of the painting, it is also an important historical record, reflecting the very raw sense of grief which would have been experienced in Ireland for those who were lost on Bloody Sunday 1920.  Singing ‘The Dark Rosaleen’, Croke Park is also a testament to the key contribution of the GAA in forging Ireland’s national identity, and the importance of Croke Park in both a sporting and historical context.”
The Minister continued: “I would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate the National Gallery of Ireland on welcoming over 1 million visitors in 2024. This is the second year in a row that the Gallery has achieved this milestone and demonstrates the Gallery’s importance to visitors from near and far.” 

Dr Caroline Campbell, Director of the National Gallery of Ireland, added: “Jack Butler Yeats is a profoundly influential artist, both in Ireland and internationally. Acquiring Singing ‘The Dark Rosaleen’, Croke Park enriches our national collection and allows us to share his remarkable legacy with all our visitors. I am delighted to unveil such a significant work, and I sincerely thank the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport for their support, as well as the private donor for their generous contribution. The painting is now on display in the Gallery’s Irish Rooms for everyone to enjoy.”

ENDS

Media Contacts:

• Fiona Sexton, Communications, Marketing & Digital Engagement Manager, National Gallery of Ireland, Email: [email protected]  or  [email protected]

Notes to Editor:

• Images are available at the link: https://we.tl/t-P7BbAnsB7j
• Dr Caroline Campbell, Director of the National Gallery of Ireland, is available for interview
• Dr Brendan Rooney, Head Curator, National Gallery of Ireland, is available for interview.

2025 Exhibition Listing

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Mainie Jellett and Evie Hone - The Art of Friendship
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Lower Beit Wing, Rooms 6-10

An Artist’s Presence
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The Print Gallery

Créatúir na Cartlainne | Tails from the Archive 
From 27 June 2025
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Maurice Marinot – On Paper, In Glass 
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Picasso: From the Studio
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Organised by The National Gallery of Ireland in collaboration with the Musée national Picasso-Paris. 
Proudly supported by KPMG Ireland, Exhibition Partner

AIB Portrait Prize 2025 and AIB Young Portrait Prize 2025
07 November 2025 – 15 March 2026
The Portrait Gallery

About the National Gallery of Ireland:

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Fógraíonn an Dánlann Náisiúnta ceannach Jack B. Yeats Singing ‘The Dark Rosaleen’, Croke Park (1921)

Saothar Suntasach a Léiríonn Croí agus Stair na hÉireann

Is breá le Dánlann Náisiúnta na hÉireann a fhógairt gur ceannaíodh Singing ‘The Dark Rosaleen’, Croke Park (1921), saothar suntasach le Jack B. Yeats. Treisíonn an saothar seo a chur leis an mbailiúchán náisiúnta le hábhar an bhailiúcháin sin a shaothraigh duine de na healaíontóirí is mó meas agus tionchar de chuid na hÉireann chomh maith le haird a tharraingt ar am cinniúnach i stair na tíre. Ceannaíodh an pictiúr sa bhliain 2024 le cúnamh speisialta ó Rialtas na hÉireann agus le síntiús fial ó dheontóir príobháideach. Tá sé le feiceáil ar taispeáint anois ag cuairteoirí i nDánlann Náisiúnta na hÉireann.

Bhí an t-aos dána go tréan sa teach inar tógadh Jack B. Yeats. Bhí a athair, John Butler Yeats, cumasach i mbun portráidíochta; bhí dea-chlú ealaíontóireachta ar bheirt deirfiúr leis, Lily agus Lolly; agus bhí cáil ar fud an domhain ar a dheartháir, W.B. Yeats, as ucht a chuid filíochta. Tar éis dó aird a tharraingt ina mhaisitheoir agus ag saothrú uiscedhathanna i dtús a ré ealaíontóireachta i Sasana, d’fhill Yeats ar Éirinn sula raibh sé an daichead, chuir faoi go buan anseo agus rinne an t-athrú mór go péintéireacht ola. Bhí sé bisiúil agus chuir líon níos mó ná 1,200 saothar de, a mórchuid sin i rith an 15 bhliana deiridh dá shaol. Bhí mothú mór le brath ar shaol na tuaithe agus ar shaol an bhaile mhóir ina chuid oibre.

Déantar tagairt i dteideal an tsaothair nuacheannaithe do ‘The Dark Rosaleen (Róisín Dubh)’, leagan le James Clarence Mangan sa 19ú céad de dhán ó ré Eilíse a raibh ceol ag gabháil leis. Sa bhliain 1921, an bhliain chéanna inar phéinteáil Yeats an saothar seo, is é an cuntas a thug Thomas P. Whelan ar The Dark Rosaleen: “a passionate address in verse to Ireland, written for a nation that still drank from the cup of sorrow.”

Cé nach bhfuil tagairt neamhbhalbh in Singing ‘The Dark Rosaleen’, Croke Park don eachtra fuilteach i bPáirc an Chrócaigh ar an 21 Samhain 1920, ar a dtugtar Domhnach na Fola, tá macalla na tragóide agus a raibh i gceist leis le brath ar an teideal, ar an suíomh agus ar an ngruaim a chuirtear in iúl. An lá sin, nuair a bhí cluiche peile ar siúl idir Baile Átha Cliath agus Tiobraid Árann, scaoil na Auxilaries (brainse paraimhíleata den Chonstáblacht Ríoga) leis an lucht féachana agus mharaigh siad 14 saoránach, Micheál Ó hÓgáin, peileadóir de chuid Thiobraid Árann ina measc, chomh maith le 60 duine eile den lucht féachana a ghortú.

Is beag de shaothar Yeats lena mbaineann gné polaitíochta go soiléir agus is léir tuiscint dhomhain phearsanta an ealaíontóra sa saothar seo ar eachtra mhórshuntasach i stair na hÉireann. Ní follas an radharc seo a chonaic Yeats os a chomhair féin go díreach, an sceitsí éagsúla atá ann arna gcumasc le chéile nó an é toradh a chuid samhlaíochta go hiomlán é. Tá le tuiscint, ina dhiaidh sin, ó léaráidí éagsúla de chluichí iománaíochta i leabhair sceitseála atá i gcartlann Yeats sa Dánlann Náisiúnta go raibh cleachtadh aige ar an láthair.

Is minic bailéid agus bailéadaíocht mar ábhar ina chuid saothair ag Jack B. Yeats agus chruinnigh sé féin bailiúchán leitheadach de leabhair amhrán agus de bhileoga ceoil. Mar gheall ar mhacalla na staire sna bailéid, agus a raibh de mhothú ag gabháil leo, thapaíodh Yeats iad mar dheis le radharc a shuíomh i gcomhthéacs sóisialta agus stairiúil.

Tráth ar cuireadh an pictiúr ar taispeáint den chéad uair sa bhliain 1921, is é a luadh ar an Freeman’s Journal ina leith: "surge of patriotic emotion that the most dismal surroundings cannot repress." Ar an gcuma chéanna le Bachelor’s Walk, In Memory, a cheannaigh an Dánlann sa bhliain 2021, déantar éagaoineadh in Singing ‘The Dark Rosaleen’, Croke Park ar eachtra tamall tar éis dó titim amach seachas foréigean na heachtra sin a léiriú go díreach.

Is léiriú an ceannachán seo ar dhúthracht Dhánlann Náisiúnta na hÉireann maidir le hoidhreacht ealaíne agus staire na hÉireann a chaomhnú agus a chur i láthair ionas go gcinntítear gur féidir leis na glúnta atá le theacht an t-ábhar tréan scéalaíocha atá fite fuaite sa bhailiúchán náisiúnta a thaithí.

Is mian leis an nDánlann Náisiúnta buíochas a ghlacadh leis an Roinn Cultúir, Cumarsáide agus Spóirt as an gcúnamh seasta leanúnach. 

Deir Patrick O’Donovan TD, an tAire Cultúir, Cumarsáide agus Spóirt: “Ba mhaith liom comhghairdeas a dhéanamh le Gailearaí Náisiúnta na hÉireann as Singing ‘The Dark Rosaleen’, Croke Park le Jack B. Yeats a cheannach, saothar tábhachtach le duine de na healaíontóirí is mó le rá in Éirinn.  Is pictiúr álainn ealaíonta é, ach is taifead stairiúil an-tábhachtach atá ann freisin, a léiríonn an brón mór a bhí ar mhuintir na hÉireann do na daoine a fuair bás ar Dhomhnach na Fola, 1920.  Is léiriú é Singing ‘The Dark Rosaleen’, Croke Park freisin ar rannpháirtíocht an CLG maidir le féiniúlacht náisiúnta na hÉireann a fhorbairt, agus an tábhacht a bhaineann le Páirc an Chrócaigh i gcomhthéacs spórtúil agus stairiúil.”
Lean an tAire: “Ba mhaith liom freisin an deis a ghlacadh comhghairdeas a dhéanamh le Gailearaí Náisiúnta na hÉireann as fáilte a chur roimh os cionn 1 milliún cuairteoir in 2024. Is í seo an dara bliain as a chéile a bhfuil an sprioc seo bainte amach ag an nGailearaí agus léiríonn sé tábhacht an Ghailearaí do chuairteoirí ó chian agus ó chóngar.” 

Deir an Dr Caroline Campbell, Stiúrthóir Dhánlann Náisiúnta na hÉireann: "Ealaíontóir iomráiteach é Jack Butler Yeats a chuaigh i gcion go mór in Éirinn agus go hidirnáisiúnta. Cuireann Singing ‘The Dark Rosaleen’, Croke Park a cheannach go mór leis an mbailiúchán náisiúnta agus tugann sé deis dúinn an ghné shuntasach seo den oidhreacht a chur ar taispeáint do chuairteoirí sa Dánlann. Is breá liom saothar chomh tábhachtach leis seo a chur ar taispeáint agus is mian liom buíochas ó chroí a chur in iúl don Roinn Cultúir, Cumarsáide agus Spóirt as an gcúnamh fial. Tá an saothar ar taispeáint anois i seomraí ealaín na hÉireann sa Dánlann Náisiúnta agus fáilte roimh an uile dhuine a theacht á fheiceáil.”

CRÍOCH

Caidreamh leis na Meáin Cumarsáide:

• Fiona Sexton, Bainisteoir Cumarsáide, Margaíochta & Comhchaidrimh Digitigh, Dánlann Náisiúnta na hÉireann, Ríomhphost: [email protected] or [email protected]

Nótaí don Eagarthóir:

• Tá íomhánna ar fáil ag: https://we.tl/t-P7BbAnsB7j
• Tá an Dr Caroline Campbell, Stiúrthóir Dhánlann Náisiúnta na hÉireann, ar fáil le haghaidh agallaimh.
• Tá an Dr Brendan Rooney, An Príomh-Choimeádaí, Dánlann Náisiúnta na hÉireann, ar fáil le haghaidh agallaimh.

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