Public Art in County Longford

Circle of Courage by Gary Robinson

A Decade of Centenaries project in which artists were asked to propose an art work responding to an account of the Clonfin ambush by Ardagh historian Dr Mel Farrell, the Circle of Courage sculpture by Gary Robinson was the successful proposed project. 

For this work, a series of open circles, making up a larger, unfinished sphere is made from Corten steel – a reference to ‘The Blacksmith of Ballinalee’ Seán MacEoin. The sculpture incorporates stones from the homesteads of each volunteer involved in the ambush.

The significant contribution of Cumann na mBan is marked with a bicycle wheel disk representing organisation member Kate Ann Mulligan. Four looped disks represent the four Auxiliaries who died as a result of the ambush. Michael Farrell, who was killed a day after the ambush, is also acknowledged within the piece.

The steel work was completed by Custom Metal Fabrications, with detail work by Core Components. Sergeant Ozzie Hackett from the Irish Defence Forces and the sculpture’s daughter Hollie Robinson also contributed to the piece.

Location: site of the Clonfin ambush in Ballinalee
Material: Corten steel, stone

The Traveller by Eamonn O’Doherty

Based on the theme of his poem The Traveller, the seated figure of Oliver Goldsmith (1728-1774) is accompanied by his satchel resting on the ground beside him with a flute resting on top. Goldsmith was an Anglo-Irish essayist, novelist, playwright and poet. He is best known for his novel The Vicar of Wakefield (1766), his pastoral poem The Deserted Village (1770), and his plays The Good-Natur'd Man (1768) and She Stoops to Conquer (1771, first performed in 1773). He was born in the townland of Pallas, near Ballymahon. 

Location: Outside Ballymahon Library, Main Street, Ballymahon
Material: Bronze in limestone
Scale: 1.5x.6m

Maria Edgeworth by Mel French

Life-size statue of Maria Edgeworth leaning against a concrete and bronze arch holding a book and looking into the distance.

Maria Edgeworth is an Anglo-Irish novelists, with her most famous work being the novel Castle Rackrent. Born at Black Burton, Oxfordshire in England on 1 January 1767, she spent most of her life in Edgeworthstown, where the Maria Edgeworth Centre is now located.

Location: N4 at Edgeworthstown
Material: Bronze on concrete
Scale: 1.7x2m

Always Come Home by Rory Breslin

An emigration memorial by the sculptor Rory Breslin and dedicated to Cathy Lynch, Always Come Home depicts a man standing and looking east, with seated female looking west. Both figures are holding a ticket for a Cunard transatlantic ship. On the cylindrical pedestal there is written 'Some leave by choice, some by necessity. All are missed, Always welcome home.'
Location: Centenary Square, Longford
Material: Bronze on limestone
Scale: 2.4m

Still Water, Flowing Water by Michael McKeown

One and a half-life size bronze sculpture of a veiled female figure fixed on top of a fountain
Locations: The Mall Public Park, Longford Town
Material: Stainless steel bronze
Scale: 2x1.8m 

The Irish Harp by John O'Connor

Representation of a de-constructed Irish harp in three pieces
Location: Granard
Material: Stainless Steel
Scale: 3x3m

Commemorative Slab by Mel French 

North-facing façade of the limestone slab is covered in bas-relief carvings of words associated with the fire service, in the centre is a blank space carved in the shape of County Longford
Locations: Edgeworthstown Fire Station
Material: Limestone 
Scale: 2.1x1m

Three Warriors 

Three black-steel warriors bearing spears representing the different ethnic elements that constitutes the Irish identity
Location: by St Mel’s Training Centre students on the Dublin Road roundabout in Longford
Material: Steel
Scale: approximately 2.4x1m each

Emigration by Mel French

Celebrates the contribution of Longford emigrants by way of bronze depictions through negative space on four bronze suitcases which rest on limestone bases.
Location: Canal View estate, Longford
Material: Bronze on limestone slabs
Scale: Each base range 1m to 1.5m, suitcases are .6 high and .7m wide