The Artist was commissioned to paint this canvas in 1993 and as far as he know this is the only depiction of the Sirius leaving Cork harbour - there are many paintings of it arriving in the harbour. The Sirius was the first vessel to cross the Atlantic entirely under the power of steam, travelling from Passage West in county Cork to New York in April 1838. Built in Leith, Edinburgh, the Sirius first came to Cork in 1837 when she was purchased by the St. George Steam Packet Company for the then princely sum of £27,000. A set of limited edition prints, signed and stamped by the artist, is available; email Mícheál for full details.

Added Jul 27, 2014