Micheál de Búrca

Micheál de Búrca RHA (31 December 1912 – 9 December 1985), born Michael Bourke, was an Irish artist from Castlebar who was appointed Director of the National College of Art and Design in 1942. He primarily painted landscapes and seascapes using oil paints on board and watercolours on board respectively. His work "Summer Evening, Achill" has been used in several books and collections to date.

Micheál de Búrca was born in 1913 in Tipperary. He was reared in Maryland House, Castlebar, the Bourke family residence at the time, by Thomas Bourke, a businessman, and his wife, Madge. The Bourkes' business started in 1881 and included harnesses, saddlery, bicycles, motorcars, a cinema and a power generation station which provided Castlebar with electricity.

Michael began his education at St. Gerald's College in Castlebar, then studied at the Dublin Metropolitan School of Art (forerunner to the National College of Art and Design).

After finishing his studies Michael was appointed as an Art Inspector within the Department of Education. It was at this time that he visited schools and drew up the national art syllabus for secondary schools.

In 1941 following the unexpected sudden death of George Atkinson, then Director of the National College of Art, Michael was appointed to the position of Acting Director. Shortly thereafter in 1942 Michael was appointed Director. It was because of this position that he changed his name to the Irish form (Micheál de Búrca) because the Director was required to be a Gaeilgeoir (an Irish language enthusiast). He was already fluent in Irish. He used the signature Michael Bourke initially, before switching to Micheál de Búrca. He continued to paint and exhibit as the Director. During World War II he re-introduced stained glass, screen printing, weaving and metal work to the college's curriculum. To facilitate this expansion he encouraged Patrick McElroy, a blacksmith and RAF veteran with CIÉ to lecture on enamelling and fine art metalwork.

Around the same time he organised a travelling art exhibition to take art by rail to technical schools around the country. The aim of which was "to awaken interest in art and encourage art teaching". About 60 works were involved in this exhibition, all donated by artists and owners for the length of the exhibition.

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