Council softens stance on return of statue

Date Published: 14-Mar-2013

BY DARA BRADLEY

The battle to bring home the Crimean War cannons and the Pádraic Ó Conaire statue to Eyre Square received a boost this week.

It’s almost 13 years since the much-loved statue of the Irish language poet was moved to the Galway Museum, and two historical war cannons were moved to City Hall.

At the time, Galway City Council said they were being moved because of vandalism and to protect them from weather wear and tear. Ever since, Galwegians and elected members of the Council have lamented their absence, and lobbied for their return.

The Council executive seemed steadfastly opposed to it, but they appeared to soften their public approach at this week’s Council meeting and indicated they may agree to returning the cannons and producing a replica statute of Ó Conaire for Eyre Square.

City Manager Joe O’Neill agreed at Monday’s meeting to bring a report to the next Council meeting about the possibility of returning ‘Sean Phádraic’ to the Square.

Labour City Councillor Collette Connolly this week came out in support of erecting a replica statue of the original Pádraic Ó Conaire, which was unveiled by Eamon de Valera in Eyre Square in 1935.

Cllr Connolly said she would “dearly love to see the original returned to Eyre Square” but conceded it was not possible due to the deterioration in the condition of the statue.

Mayor Terry O’Flaherty (Ind) reminded her colleagues that the statue was decapitated by vandals some years ago and a Galway Gardaí apprehended an individual with Sean Phádraic’s head in his bag attempting to leave the city by public transport.

For more on this story, see the Galway City Tribune.