Last night's Tonight Show on Virgin Media One saw an incredibly tense discussion between Ireland Editor with the Irish Independent Fionnán Sheahan and artist Adam Doyle, also known as Spice Bag.
Both appeared on the show hosted by Claire Brock to discuss the fallout of a print from Spice Bag, which was shared on Twitter by Sinn Féin TD Eoin Ó Broin.
The image depicts Gardaí superimposed onto a Famine-era eviction scene. It is a rendering of the Famine-era Eviction Scene painting by Daniel MacDonald except the officers in the 1850s image are replaced by present day gardaí in balaclavas.
The Gardaí in question are taken from images 2018 incident in which housing activists that had occupied a building in Dublin’s North Frederick Street were removed from the building by a private security group.
The decision by the members in the force to cover their faces was described at the time as "not correct" by the Garda Commissioner Drew Harris.
The Sinn Féin housing spokesperson shared the image with the simple caption "no words needed" and has since faced calls from the government and others to delete the tweet.
No words needed (credit Mála Spíosraí) pic.twitter.com/JK6NVcFNeU
— Eoin Ó Broin (@EOBroin) April 1, 2023
Ó Broin has since clarified to the general secretary of the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors, Antoinette Cunningham, that the tweet was a criticism of government policy rather than An Garda Síochana, after Ms. Cunningham had labelled it at the weekend as "deeply offensive."
Fionnan Sheahan and Spice Bag clash over artist's work
Things escalated on last night's programme when Sheahan stated that Spice Bag has "politically motivated pieces of art."
Fionnan Sheahan losing his sh1te with the artist Spice Bag for his work #TonightVMTV #HowIrelandWorks pic.twitter.com/24yyfgz9hb
— Mick Caul (@caulmick) April 3, 2023
Earlier parts of the tense exchange saw Sheahan interrupt Spice Bag, who was unable to make his point.
"I'd imagine everything everyone is saying on this panel is probably politically motivated in some way," Spice Bag replied when asked by Brock.
"My art is political satire. I'm entitled to my own opinions, it's my own art.
"If you (Sheahan) don't like them, that's your problem."
SEE ALSO: Love Island Winner Has Baffled Everyone With Her Pronunciation Of Limerick
