My father and Flann O'Brien's brother, artist Micheál Ó Nualláin, worked together. The two connected in their scepticism towards the first inklings of neoliberalism, which presented itself in the form of an alien new concept in the civil service, 'the deadline'. Ó Nualláin was fond of my dad because he had stood by him during attempts to nudge him out of a role (or sack him I think). In gratitude, when Ó Nualláin retired, he gave my dad this illustration which I have in my studio:
