WHY THIS SCULPTURE WAS SPONSORED BY A BAKERY
Because of the location of the sculpture an the limitations of my lens I fould it close to impossible to photograph the inscription.
Original Commission: In the 1930s, the Kerry Poets Memorial Committee commissioned O'Connor to create a piece commemorating significant Gaelic poets from the region. O'Connor designed a sculpture of Éire, a female personification of Ireland, holding a harp.
Religious Opposition: Although allegorical, the sculpture's design was considered too "pagan" by some religious figures. They wanted a more overt Christian symbolism included in the artwork.
Stalling and Rejection: O'Connor was unwilling to compromise his artistic vision. This led to strong opposition, with payments being blocked and the sculpture ultimately rejected by the committee.
Artist's Hardship: This controversy contributed to O'Connor's financial troubles and took a toll on his well-being.
Delayed Installation: The sculpture remained unfinished for decades. It was only in 1976, long after O'Connor's death, that it was finally cast in bronze and installed in Merrion Square Park. The sponsorship surprisingly came from a bakery (Downes) instead of an art or cultural organization.
Missing Pedestal and Inscription: Sadly, the sculpture was placed without its intended pedestal or an inscription explaining its history or the artist's name. [discussed below]
The story of "Éire" highlights the tensions that existed between artistic freedom and conservative religious influences in Ireland during that period.
Note: It is claimed in many accounts that there is no inscription but as can be seen in my photographs there is one at the back of the sculpture. However when I mentioned this in the past I got the following response.
Here's the thing about the inscription on Jerome O'Connor's "Éire" sculpture:
The Inscription's Content: The inscription on the back focuses on the sponsor who made its delayed installation possible. It reads:
"This statue was presented to the people of Dublin by Downes Bread to perpetuate the memory of the sculptor Jerome Connor 1874-1943"
Missing Focus: Sadly, the inscription doesn't offer any information about the following:
The sculpture's symbolism or its intended role as a memorial to Kerry Poets
The controversy surrounding its initial rejection
This lack of context is what might have contributed to the sculpture seeming out of place or less immediately recognisable as a significant artwork within Merrion Square.
Unfortunately, Downes bakery, the company that sponsored the installation of "Éire", no longer exists. It was a well-known Dublin bakery, but it seems they went out of business some time ago.
It's interesting to think that even though the bakery is gone, its contribution helped preserve an important piece of Irish art history.
Original Commission: In the 1930s, the Kerry Poets Memorial Committee commissioned O'Connor to create a piece commemorating significant Gaelic poets from the region. O'Connor designed a sculpture of Éire, a female personification of Ireland, holding a harp.
Religious Opposition: Although allegorical, the sculpture's design was considered too "pagan" by some religious figures. They wanted a more overt Christian symbolism included in the artwork.
Stalling and Rejection: O'Connor was unwilling to compromise his artistic vision. This led to strong opposition, with payments being blocked and the sculpture ultimately rejected by the committee.
Artist's Hardship: This controversy contributed to O'Connor's financial troubles and took a toll on his well-being.
Delayed Installation: The sculpture remained unfinished for decades. It was only in 1976, long after O'Connor's death, that it was finally cast in bronze and installed in Merrion Square Park. The sponsorship surprisingly came from a bakery (Downes) instead of an art or cultural organization.
Missing Pedestal and Inscription: Sadly, the sculpture was placed without its intended pedestal or an inscription explaining its history or the artist's name. [discussed below]
The story of "Éire" highlights the tensions that existed between artistic freedom and conservative religious influences in Ireland during that period.
Note: It is claimed in many accounts that there is no inscription but as can be seen in my photographs there is one at the back of the sculpture. However when I mentioned this in the past I got the following response.
Here's the thing about the inscription on Jerome O'Connor's "Éire" sculpture:
The Inscription's Content: The inscription on the back focuses on the sponsor who made its delayed installation possible. It reads:
"This statue was presented to the people of Dublin by Downes Bread to perpetuate the memory of the sculptor Jerome Connor 1874-1943"
Missing Focus: Sadly, the inscription doesn't offer any information about the following:
The sculpture's symbolism or its intended role as a memorial to Kerry Poets
The controversy surrounding its initial rejection
This lack of context is what might have contributed to the sculpture seeming out of place or less immediately recognisable as a significant artwork within Merrion Square.
Unfortunately, Downes bakery, the company that sponsored the installation of "Éire", no longer exists. It was a well-known Dublin bakery, but it seems they went out of business some time ago.
It's interesting to think that even though the bakery is gone, its contribution helped preserve an important piece of Irish art history.
WHY THIS SCULPTURE WAS SPONSORED BY A BAKERY