THE YEAR WAS 1984.

The Slane line-up was In Tua Nua, UB40, Carlos Santana and headliner Bob Dylan.

Future President Michael D Higgins was in the crowd – soaking up the sun, with his shirt unbuttoned nearly all the way down.

And it was that afternoon when this iconic photo was taken

president.ie president.ie

Glorious.

It surfaced on the official President.ie website back in 2015 and it became an instant classic of the Michael D genre.

So much so that Dublin-based artist Rachel Grimes decided she had to turn it into an illustration – and this was the result

Rachel Grimes Rachel Grimes

Speaking to DailyEdge.ie, Rachel described why this particular photo appealed:

I really admire Michael D as he is much more than your average president, and clearly loves Ireland so much. He so often appears in unexpected and iconic photos, which provide a quirky insight into his personality.

His festival look is on trend, too:

It was taken in 1984, which happens to be the year I was born. I like this photo because, not only is his festival look on trend, but you can tell he is really loving life! So I had to draw it, making a replica in black ink.

Given the photo is black and white, we don’t know exactly what colour his clothes were that day – so Rachel speculated

Rachel Grimes Rachel Grimes

Looks good.

And covered all the bases:

“Whilst in the process, I was wondering what colour his shirt actually would have been, so I came up with a few colourful variations.”

Rachel Grimes Rachel Grimes

Thumbs up on the shades.

She sells her work as A2 and A3 prints as well as in greeting card form – just in case you need to give the gift of Slane-era Michael D.

It’s part of a “drawing Irish icons” series she’s working on – with Conor McGregor up next

Excellent.

Although you could probably get a whole series out of just Michael D.

The BMX shot next, please.

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More Michael D chatting to a man with a budgie on his shoulder is one of the great Galway photos>