ABOUT THE BRENDAN BEHAN SCULPTURE
BRENDAN BEHAN ENJOYING THE BAD WEATHER [THE DRINKER WITH A WRITING PROBLEM]
Located near Binns Bridge on the banks of the Royal Canal in Dublin, the bronze sculpture of Brendan Behan serves as a poignant tribute to one of Ireland’s most colourful and celebrated literary figures. Unveiled on 8 December 2003, the monument captures the essence of the "drinker with a writing problem" in a setting that was deeply personal to him.
The Sculpture and its Symbolism
The life-sized bronze depicts Behan in a relaxed, contemplative pose, seated on a park bench. He is accompanied by a singing blackbird, a nod to his lyrical sensitivity and perhaps a reference to the "blackbird" in Irish mythology and song.
The location is significant for several reasons:
The Royal Canal: Behan’s famous play The Quare Fellow features the song "The Auld Triangle," which famously mentions the "jingle-jangle" along the banks of the Royal Canal.
Mountjoy Prison: The statue is situated at the rear of Mountjoy Prison, where Behan was incarcerated for his IRA activities and which served as the setting for much of his early work.
Tactile Art: It is designed as a "sit-by-me" statue, inviting passers-by to share the bench with the author, reflecting Behan's gregarious and man-of-the-people persona.
The Sculptor: John Coll
The work was created by the renowned Irish sculptor John Coll. Coll is widely regarded for his ability to capture the psychological depth of his subjects through bronze.
Background: Born in County Galway, Coll has become one of Ireland's most prominent figurative sculptors.
Other Notable Works: He is the same artist responsible for the famous statue of Patrick Kavanagh on the Grand Canal and the Tom Crean memorial in Annascaul.
Style: His work often features a textured, expressive finish that brings a sense of movement and life to the static bronze, perfectly suited for a character as boisterous as Behan.
Located near Binns Bridge on the banks of the Royal Canal in Dublin, the bronze sculpture of Brendan Behan serves as a poignant tribute to one of Ireland’s most colourful and celebrated literary figures. Unveiled on 8 December 2003, the monument captures the essence of the "drinker with a writing problem" in a setting that was deeply personal to him.
The Sculpture and its Symbolism
The life-sized bronze depicts Behan in a relaxed, contemplative pose, seated on a park bench. He is accompanied by a singing blackbird, a nod to his lyrical sensitivity and perhaps a reference to the "blackbird" in Irish mythology and song.
The location is significant for several reasons:
The Royal Canal: Behan’s famous play The Quare Fellow features the song "The Auld Triangle," which famously mentions the "jingle-jangle" along the banks of the Royal Canal.
Mountjoy Prison: The statue is situated at the rear of Mountjoy Prison, where Behan was incarcerated for his IRA activities and which served as the setting for much of his early work.
Tactile Art: It is designed as a "sit-by-me" statue, inviting passers-by to share the bench with the author, reflecting Behan's gregarious and man-of-the-people persona.
The Sculptor: John Coll
The work was created by the renowned Irish sculptor John Coll. Coll is widely regarded for his ability to capture the psychological depth of his subjects through bronze.
Background: Born in County Galway, Coll has become one of Ireland's most prominent figurative sculptors.
Other Notable Works: He is the same artist responsible for the famous statue of Patrick Kavanagh on the Grand Canal and the Tom Crean memorial in Annascaul.
Style: His work often features a textured, expressive finish that brings a sense of movement and life to the static bronze, perfectly suited for a character as boisterous as Behan.
BRENDAN BEHAN SCULPTURE