Living sculpture at Merlin Park

Date Published: 22-Jan-2008

A COMMUNITY Artist has planted a living willow sculpture outside the main Administration Block of Merlin Park University Hospital (MPUH).

Members of staff, patients, visitors and local communities were encouraged to participate to help make this living willow sculpture by Debbie Hunt, which a spokesperson says will greatly enhance the hospital environment.

This latest venture at Merlin Park adds to the hospital’s recent success in receiving second prize in the Business Park Category of the Galway Tidy Towns competition. “Trees are an essential part of our environment and the sculpturing of a living willow, which has been funded by GUH Arts Committee, is an excellent initiative,” says Margaret O’Toole, Business Manager at Merlin Park.

“Staff at the hospital work tirelessly to enhance the appearance of the hospital, and some of the achievements of the Tidy Hospital Committee are providing improved lighting and footpaths, additional picnic benches, restoration of old 1650 graves and developments of garden and patio for Long Stay residents at the rear of Units 5 and 6.”

The sculpture, which was commissioned by Galway University Hospitals’ Arts Committee, will eventually grow to between 12 and 18 feet in diameter in a circle of long willow stems interwoven to form a dome shape, which will grow to provide a natural shelter in the Spring. Bark mulch, or stones will be placed inside the dome to provide a drier contrasting area, and bulbs will be planted around the outside circle.

Ms O’Toole says that in the Spring the willow will send out new growth and the dome will become a natural sanctuary of calm and beauty. As the willow grows, it can be woven back into the structure providing a dense covering, and later the willow can be harvested and used elsewhere.