The Canvas

An interesting fact about this huge canvas is that it was painted almost entirely from living models, many of whom participated in the original Gold Rush
The third from the right in the extreme top corner is now a principal officer in the Department of F - - ce on a salary scale of £815 to £915 a year, exclusive of bonus. Though badly placed at the Macroom bend he gained ground rapidly on the straight Tipperary stretch and drawing into the lead passing through Naas was never afterwards headed
Mr Eustace O'Honovan, who occupies third place in the picture, dropped back to almost last soon after passing Monasterevan and the best he could do was a clerical officer-ship in the Department of Posts and Telegraphs
Mr Herbert OTwomey, who is seen in the lead in the picture, kept up a rare bat all the way till coming into Lucan when his wooden leg and the wind resistance to his nightgown began to tell against him However, he finished a creditable sixth and secured a Junior Administrative post shortly after the abolition of the Entrance Examination for the position
The gentleman who is seen in the picture taking the short cut over the wall and across the fields, ran into second place passing Salhns, but failed to overhaul the leader He secured a £900 to £975 position in the Land Commission and, five hours after his appointment, sent home for his brother, only to find that the latter had secured a seat up on a lorry and had already established himself in the Office of Public Works.
Nothing definite is known of the official history of the Mr M O'Keeffe who is seen extricating himself from an awkward position on the left of the picture, but a friend of ours who addressed an appeal recently to the Revenue Department is of the opinion that the reply he got was from him