Newport’s Harry Clarke on Christmas stamp

An Post Christmas stamp has image from stained-glass window in Newport Church


Áine Ryan

AN POST has given a Christmas stamp of approval to the Infant Christ, a section of the  ‘Adoration of the Maji’,  from a Harry Clarke  stained-glass window in St Patrick’s Church,  Newport,  photographed by Michael McLaughlin.
It is among three festive stamps commissioned for the Christmas season. The others depict schoolgirl, Paris Curtin (7) from Dublin, dressed as an angel while singing in the Mansion House some years ago and another Harry Clarke image featuring an ‘Angel with Lute’, which is in Millstreet Parish Church in County Cork.
Speaking to The Mayo News yesterday, Michael McLaughlin said: “It is great to have one of your images used as a national stamp which will be sent on cards and letters all over the country and the world. It is also good publicity for the church in Newport.”
Coincidentally,  McLaughlin’s image of the ‘Adoration of the Maji’ was used by President Michael D Higgins for the cover of his official Christmas card last year.  
Some years ago the award-winning photographer was commissioned by Mayo County Council to photograph Clarke’s windows in churches all over the county, as part of a publication, honouring the work of the stained-glass artist.
‘Stained Glass Windows of Mayo by Harry Clarke and The Clarke Studios’ is a beautifully illustrated book of his windows in Mayo. Clarke windows are in churches in Balla, Ballindine, Ballinrobe, Ballyhaunis, Callow, Charlestown, Claremorris, Cong, Kilmaine, Knock, Lahardaun, Newport, Roundfort, Tooreen and Westport.   
Born in Dublin in 1889, Harry Clarke studied at the Dublin Metropolitan School of Art as a night student and became renowned for his stained glass design.

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