Bray Auction House To Host Bids For Katie Taylor Portrait

The first ever portrait of Katie Taylor (then aged 15) painted after her historic fight in 2001 when Taylor and her opponent Alanna Audley were the first female boxers to fight under the auspices of the Irish Amateur Boxing Association, of which Taylor was the victor, is up for auction on the 16^th August at Mullens Auction House, Bray.

Painted by Irish artist Paul MacCormaic whose portrait of Catherine Corless is in the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Ireland.

Throughout his career he has been shortlisted 4 times for the National Portrait Competition in the National Gallery of Ireland, and his art has been shown in the RHA over 8 times, along with numerous public art commissions to his CV.

MacCormaic has always been drawn to people who are fighting the system, fighting injustice, and those with a fighting spirit, which was evidenced in his 2025 RHA Exhibition ‘The Vanquished Writing History’.

In 2001 MacCormaic was driving to work listening to Marian Finucane on RTE Radio interviewing Katie Taylor who, then aged 15, was about to fight not only her first historic fight, but also historic for Irish sport as it was the first time females were allowed to compete in the IABA.

“Listening to these teenagers and what they'd overcome to achieve this, I was so impressed with them that I felt I had to mark the historic occasion with a double portrait”, said MacCormaic, who was at that time still working his 9-5 job, yet to embark on his career as a professional artist.

Lot 160 'The Ambassadors' (2002) by Paul MacCormaic

MacCormaic tracked down Taylor at her boxing club and asked her to pose for a portrait, likewise with Audley in her Belfast boxing club.

He chose to style the large artwork on the classical art pose of Holbein’s 1533 portrait ‘The Ambassadors’. He positioned Taylor and her opponent with their prized possessions of video's, cd's, and sports jerseys, typical teenage favourites of the era.

Instead of Holbein’s mind-bending optical illusion skull, MacCormaic placed the protective sports headgear in the foreground of the art. It was exhibited in the 2002 RHA Annual Exhibition.

This important piece of Irish art is not only notable for its remarkable photorealism likeness of the young Taylor but also for the artists choice of title ‘The Ambassadors’, as Taylor went on to be a trail blazer, becoming an ambassador for Women’s Sport, Irish Sport, and a true ambassador on many levels.  

“We’re very proud of our Bray local Katie Taylor, so it’s an honour to have this remarkable portrait of exceptional quality in our current auction”, said Joe Mullen. “To think that this was painted 25 years ago at the start of her stellar career, and we’re now on the eve of her Croke Park homecoming final fight, it's a very special moment indeed”.

Lot 160 ‘The Ambassadors’ (2002) by Paul MacCormaic (b1961), has an estimate of €1,000 - €1,500 and will be available to view from Thursday 13^th August through to Sunday 16^th August 2026 in Mullens Auction House, Woodbrook Park, Bray. The online auction ends Sunday 16^th August 2026 at 6pm.