FASSAUGH AVENUE TRAFFIC ISLAND – OR IS IT A ROUNDABOUT
Bliain na Maidine (Marian Year) 1954 Erected by parishioners and friends A Mhuire A Bhainrion Lourdes Guidh Orainn (Mary, Queen of Lourdes, pray for us)
The Marian Statue in Cabra is a concrete statue of the Virgin Mary, located in the middle of a roundabout on Fassaugh Avenue. It was erected in 1954, during the Marian Year, and is one of a number of Marian statues that were built in Dublin during this time.
The statue is about 10 feet tall and depicts Mary in a traditional pose, with her hands folded in prayer and her head slightly bowed. She is wearing a long white dress and a blue cloak, and she has a crown on her head. The statue is standing on a pedestal, which is surrounded by a low wall.
The statue is well-maintained and is regularly cleaned and decorated.
Until today I did not realise that this Marian Statue is described, in some guides, as being on a traffic island rather than a roundabout so I had to go and check if there is a difference.
“Yes, a traffic island and a roundabout are different. A traffic island is a raised or painted object in a road that channels traffic. It can also be a narrow strip of island between roads that intersect at an acute angle. Traffic islands can be used to reduce the speed of cars driving through, or to provide a central refuge to pedestrians crossing the road.”
“A roundabout, on the other hand, is a circular intersection or junction in which road traffic is permitted to flow in one direction around a central island. Roundabouts are designed to improve traffic flow and safety, and they are becoming increasingly popular in many countries.”