14 October 2016
By Bryan T. Smyth
bryan@TheCork.ie
Today at 1.00pm the Lord Mayor of Cork Des Cahill will unveil a bust of Éamon de Valera sculpted by Seamus Murphy in the Cork Public Museum in Fitzgerald’s Park.
The bust has been donated by former councillor Máirín Quill, who acquired the piece from the family of the well known Cork sculptor Seamus Murphy.
One of the giants of Cork art, and an important figure in the 20th century history of Irish art, Seamus Murphy was a traditional sculptor, best known for his ecclesiastical limestone statues
and portrait heads. His most notable works include Saint Brigid and the Twelve Apostles, San Francisco, ras an Uachtar in Dublin and the United Nations Monument in Glasnevin, Dublin.
Lord Mayor Cllr Des Cahill stated
“On behalf of the people of Cork I am very honoured to accept this most generous gift from Máirin Quill. As people know Máirin has given a lifetime of public service to Cork and Ireland, as teacher, Councillor, TD and Senator. She has been active all that time in promoting the cultural life of the city. My predecessor as Lord Mayor was very happy to acknowledge the gift earlier in the year, and it will be my pleasure to officiate at the unveiling.”
The Lord Mayor also noted that the City Council has a tradition of honouring both great leaders – Collins and de Valera – together. The bust will be located in the Museum between the busts of Michael Collins and Tom Barry also sculpted by Seamus Murphy.
