Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 13 Mar 1997

Vol. 476 No. 4

Adjournment Debate. - Replacement of Statue of St. Patrick.

Mr. Dempsey

Listening to Deputy Nealon speak about a local post office being operated from the front room of a priest's house it struck me that that must be a unique phenomenon today, with the Government attempting to exclude the churches from education while involving them in the operations of post offices.

I am grateful to the Cheann Comhairle for allowing me to raise the continuous controversy about the replacement of a statue of Saint Patrick on the Hill of Tara. It is appropriate that this subject be aired again with the advent of his feast day.

A statue of Saint Patrick was erected on the Hill of Tara approximately 100 years ago to signify his connection with that site and the arrival of Christianity here. Around 1992 the original statue, which had been formed of cement or concrete, was removed for repair when the Office of Public Works discovered it was not really replaceable, as someone had aimed a few pot-shots at it with a firearm. After it was removed, the Office of Public Works refused to replace it on the Hill of Tara. I was serving as Minister of State at the Office of Public Works around the time that decision was taken, one with which I agree, although perhaps I should not be voicing such an opinion in an election year.

The Office of Public Works pointed out that the statue was not in keeping with the archaeological and historical significance of the Hill of Tara, the former seat of the High Kings of Ireland, with which I agree. Nonetheless, as we all know, the Hill of Tara is associated with Saint Patrick. That statue was also a landmark for miles around the Hill of Tara and its removal caused great annoyance.

While serving as Minister of State at the Office of Public Works, I reached a compromise when, with great reluctance, local people concerned about its removal agreed that it would not be replaced on its former site. In return, the Office of Public Works agreed to provide a new statue, at an agreed location, adjacent to the Hill of Tara.

Everything was fine until the new statue was commissioned. It was designed by Annette Hennessy and is not a traditional-style Saint Patrick. His depiction in so much of our literature as a bishop who brought Christianity to Ireland is evidently not now considered suitable for erection adjacent to the Hill of Tara. Its reputable sculptress has herself described it as not a traditional type-Saint Patrick but as a young boy, dressed as a swine herdsman, more akin to his appearance during the time he spent on Slemish than on his arrival, as a bishop, at the Hill of Tara. I ask the Minister to accede to the wishes of the local community to have a statue that is in keeping with the Christian traditions of St. Patrick placed adjacent to the Hill of Tara, in the place agreed. I ask the Minister not to proceed with the type of statue proposed and to announce his decision soon. It is a source of annoyance to the local community that the episcopal representation of St. Patrick should be replaced by a statue depicting a young boy dressed as a swine herd on the Hill of Tara. I ask the Minister to ensure a traditional type statue is erected on the Hill of Tara.

Minister of State at the Department of the Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht (Mr. Carey)

A competition among reputable Irish artists for the provision of a statue of St. Patrick at the Hill of Tara was held last year. Five submissions were received and publicly displayed, following an advertisement in the local newspapers, in the former old church at Tara for a period of three weeks. The comments of the public were recorded and later taken into account in the assessment process.

A selection committee comprising representatives of the Arts Council, An Comhairle Ealaíon, the Association of Artists of Ireland, my Department, the Office of Public Works and the local community, examined the submissions and recommended that of Ms. Annette Hennessy. The following is Ms. Hennessy's description of her submission:

The proposal is for an eight foot figure in bronze. My sculpture is not a traditional type statue of St. Patrick but speaks of the myth and magic associated with the many folk legends which have come down to us. The sculpture depicts the man who fought druids with fire, who was said to have been untouched by rain, who could light up the dark with his fingers, and who changed himself and his followers into deer, to escape from the High King Laoghaire and his Druids on the Hill of Tara.

Mr. Dempsey

That is paganism.

Mr. Carey

Her submission continues as follows:

In a place as ancient and rich in diverse archaeological remains as Tara it is only fitting that a statue to commemorate St. Patrick should refer not only to the Christian tradition which has shaped Ireland today but also acknowledges our pagan celtic history.

Mr. Dempsey

The visitors centre can do that.

Mr. Carey

The recommendation of the selection committee was accepted and the Minister concurs with the view that the proposed sculpture is appropriate for one of our most important ancient sites——

Mr. Dempsey

It has nothing to do with it.

Mr. Carey

——and a fitting acknowledgment of St. Patrick's association with Tara. That association is extensively acknowledged and portrayed in the splendid audio-visual show in the former old church now serving as a visitor reception facility at Tara. In response to recent reports that the proposal has met with reservations by a section of the local community——

Mr. Dempsey

There was outright opposition to it.

Mr. Carey

——I note the involvement of local representation on the selection committee from the earliest stages of the process.

Mr. Dempsey

They were not listened to.

Mr. Carey

Both the Minister and departmental officials have gone to exceptional lengths to accommodate the widespread views expressed and, in an effort to resolve this long-running matter, offered that the sculpture would be funded by my Department. The local community has been informed accordingly and its definitive response is awaited.

Mr. Dempsey

They were not listened to.