National Self-Portrait Collection of Ireland

The Collection, which is housed in the University of Limerick was started by John Kneafsey in 1977. Kneafsey ran the Limerick office of the Irish Independent newspaper and a keen collector and supporter of the arts and also held the post of Chairman of the Limerick Art Society for some years. The collection which began with just 15 self-portraits was sported by RHA President Thomas Ryan and other Irish luminaries and thus the NSPCI was founded with a Board of Trustees to manage the collection. The current collection has over 400 Self-Portraits in a variety of media.