McNally, Brother Joseph (1923– 2002) Sculptor, missionary and teacher. McNally was born in Ballintubber, Ireland, but became a Singapore citizen in 1985. A member of the De La Salle order, he came to Singapore in 1946, teaching at St Joseph’s Institution. In 1963, he became principal of St Patrick’s School, retiring in 1982. Two years later, he founded the St Patrick’s Arts Centre, which was later renamed the LASALLE- SIA College of the Arts. McNally was president of the college until 1997 and helped the Ministry of Education to draw up the Art Elective Programme for schools. For his contribution to the arts, McNally was awarded the Public Service Medal in 1990 and the Meritorious Service Medal in 1997.

McNally saw a deep spirituality in art and was known for his sculptures in bronze, oak and bogwood. He held seven solo exhibitions in Singapore and the USA, including a major retrospective at the Singapore Art Museum in 1998. His sculptures are found in public places like the Singapore General Hospital, schools and government buildings, as well as private collections.

McNally died on 27 August 2002, while visiting his hometown in County Mayo, Ireland. In 2003, a posthumous exhibition of his works was held in Dublin. The Singapore government presented a bronze, scaled- up cast of McNally’s sculpture Counsellor II to Ireland in 2004. The work was installed at the National Museum of Country Life, near McNally’s hometown.

Photo credit: National Archives of Singapore/Joseph McNally collection