Another deadline missed for return of Ó Conaire statue

There is still no definite date for the erection of a replica Pádraic Ó Conaire statue in Eyre Square, after it missed its latest deadline, according to representatives from Galway City Council.

The replica had been due to be back in Kennedy Park by June 9 – the anniversary of its original unveiling in 1935.

It’s the latest in a series of missed deadlines for the return of ‘Sean Phádraic’, which was originally hoped to be in place for the 1916 commemorations.

The original statue was erected in 1935 and was taken down in 2004, as Eyre Square underwent construction, moved to the grounds of City Hall and then to the City Museum.

City councillor Padraig Conneely, Chair of the local authority’s Cultural Committee, said the “personal agendas” of Council officials was to blame for the delays.

A spokesperson for the Council did not return a call from the Galway City Tribune.

Cllr Conneely said he has been fighting for the return of the statue to Eyre Square since it was first taken down in 2004.

“A new site has been selected in Eyre Square and I met with relatives of Pádraic Ó Conaire and the relations of Albert Power (the sculptor of the original statue) and they were very happy with the replica replacement bronze statue and its relocation in Eyre Square,” said Cllr Conneely.

“The original statue was an icon in Eyre Square for almost 80 years, until it was removed in 2004 to facilitate the revamp of the Square. The Ó Conaire family have kindly donated original Connemara stone from the Ó Conaire homestead in Rosmuc, which will form the base foundation for the replica statue in Eyre Square.

“Personal agendas of Council officials should not stand in the way of the common good for the city. I have spent almost 13 years driving the project to have the replica statue installed in Eyre Square and no city official will deter my effort in the best interests of the city and its people.

“This whole thing is being held up because they don’t want me to be calling the shots. Everything is ready to go but they just want to wait and set their own date for when the statue will go up; to put their stamp on it,” continued Cllr Conneely.

The replica statue and original stone for the base are being stored in the Galway City Museum, awaiting the go-ahead, according to Cllr Conneely.