A GIFTED Killarney-based artist, who has a penchant for capturing iconic sporting moments, is to have two of his more dramatic paintings auctioned to help raise funds for the GAA in Kerry.
Paul Downey’s stunning depiction of Colm Cooper scoring against Dublin in the 2009 All-Ireland quarter-final and another work showing Dublin’s Kevin McManamon breaking Kerry hearts in the final two years later will come under the hammer.
The memorable first minute Gooch goal is titled Surgical Strike while McManamon’s late goal, again memorable but for all the wrong reasons, is appropriately named Dagger to the Heart.
Both acrylic on canvas, they will be auctioned on next Friday night at the €200-a-plate Kerry GAA banquet in the Hilton Doubletree Hotel in Dublin on the eve of Kerry’s opening NFL clash with the boys in blue. Funds raised on the night will go towards the development of the Kerry Centre of Excellence.
An accomplished and respected artist, retired Garda detective Paul Downey focuses on images of sporting action as well as the Kerry landscape and his work is in big demand locally, nationally and internationally.
