Rachel Gaffney's Letter from Texas

Rachel Gaffney, the famous foodie who’s flying the flag for Ireland in Texas, arrives with time in hand before teaching an Irish cooking class in Austin – and discovers the work of an Irish artist in the Capitol Building

It was a Friday afternoon when I arrived in Austin, the capital of Texas. I was teaching an Irish cooking class at Central Market. I was early. The Capitol Building was calling me. I had visited once before, ever so briefly but had this urge to go back. Upon entering the building I noticed quite a few tour guides eagerly waiting to share their knowledge. One guide in particular caught my attention. He was talking to two boy scouts with such animation that I knew immediately he was the one I needed to listen to. The child in me, needed someone who loved what they do to share this afternoon with. I was not disappointed.

Upon walking into the Senate Chamber, I was struck by the magnificence of two paintings hanging on the walls. As my tour guide continued to talk and ask questions, I participated eagerly. His comment was quite funny, as he said “Young lady, you must have been a good 5th grade student in Texas History”. Obviously he had not noticed my Irish accent, as it was not one of the subjects we covered at the Ursuline Convent Cork!

However, having two boys educated here in Dallas helped somewhat with my Texas history! I continued to ask more questions as I had noticed in the painting 'Dawn at the Alamo' that James Bowie was very much alive and I had thought he was dead or injured by the time the battle had occurred or at least that was what I remembered from my son’s history book. That was when I learnt about H.A McCardle.

James Bowie was indeed dead or at least dying at the time but the painter made sure that he was very much alive in the painting of this historic battle, (although 'The Battle Of San Jacinto' was a more significant one). The Alamo fell on March 6th 1836. There is a somewhat humourous depiction of Santa Anna himself on a donkey as little more than a caricature. This magnificent painting shows a mighty and brutal battle scene with Santa Anna fleeing. The painter had a sense of humor.

The painter was H.A McArdle and he was born in Belfast in 1836. His parents died when he was a teenager and he emigrated to America. He was a draftsman during the Civil War for the Confederate Navy and later he made maps for Robert E Lee.

After marrying he settled in Texas and taught art at Baylor Female College. Later the President of Baylor, William Carey Crane recommended McArdle to the Governor of Texas. He was commissioned to paint a portrait of Jefferson Davis for the Capitol. McArdle moved to San Antonio and painted numerous portraits of Sam Houston. One of his portraits are on display in the DeGolyer Library at SMU (Southern Methodist University, Dallas)

More of his work can be found across the street in the 'Texas State Library' and in Baylor University in Waco, Texas. I was so incredibly proud of this Irishman and wanted to see more but it was time to leave for Central Market. I was eager to share this information with all the students in the cooking school. And so began my quest to learn more about the Irish in Texas.

 
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