Kilclooney Dolmen, Donegal, 2003
Liam Belton RHA (born 1947 Dublin)
Oil and mixed media on canvas
This painting features ancient dolmen stones in Ireland, that are more than 5,000 years old. The dolmen is in a remote northern part of County Donegal, near the town of Ardara and about a mile from the Bonny Glen. County Donegal was the birthplace of St Columba. St Columba founded the monastic settlement of Iona in Scotland.
The subject matter is of interest to the artist as it refers to how people migrated between Scotland and Ireland in the Mesolithic and Neolithic eras.
The Dáil Éireann, (Lower House of the Oireachtas, Ireland), gifted the artwork to the Scottish Parliament in October 2004.
Biography
Liam Belton was born in Dublin and studied at the National College of Art. He was Keeper of the Royal Hibernian Academy for many years and a Governor of the National Gallery of Ireland.