Steve Doody Archives - NORTH OF THE RIVER

I AM A BIT CONFUSED BY THE UNRELATED ELEMENTS

This park may come as a surprise to many, and it is regrettable that it is often locked. The term ‘re-opened’ raises questions. The process seems to be as follows:

[1] Discuss the possibility of establishing a memorial park for many years.

[2] Hold a grand opening just before a general election.

[3] Neglect to maintain the park.

[4] Close the park due to anti-social behaviour.

[5] Repeat the process, especially if the memorial is located in the North Side of the city.

There appear to be at least two unrelated elements, which can be confusing.

Steve Doody’s sculpture “Hexagon (This Could Be It)” is located in this small garden on North Strand Road, which also houses the North Strand Bombing Memorial. The memorial commemorates the bombing of North Strand by German aircraft during World War II. However, there doesn’t seem to be a direct connection between Doody’s sculpture and the WWII bombing. The sculpture and the memorial coexist in the same space, each with its own distinct significance. The sculpture represents Doody’s artistic expression and the efficiency of the hexagon in nature, while the memorial serves as a reminder of the historical event and its impact on the community.

At approximately 2 am on 31 May 1941, four German bombs were dropped on North Dublin. One bomb fell in the Ballybough area, demolishing the two houses at 43 and 44 Summerhill Park, injuring many but with no loss of life. A second fell at the Dog Pond pumping works near the Zoo in Phoenix Park, causing no casualties but damaging Áras an Uachtaráin, the official residence of the Irish President (Douglas Hyde at the time). A third created a large crater in the North Circular Road near Summerhill, again causing no injuries. A fourth fell in North Strand, destroying 17 houses and severely damaging about 50 others, with the worst damage occurring in the area between Seville Place and Newcomen Bridge. The raid claimed the lives of 28 people, injured 90, destroyed or damaged approximately 300 houses, and left 400 people homeless.

The reasons why Hitler’s forces dropped bombs have never been established; whether it was an attempt to force Ireland into war, or a reprisal for the assistance given by Dublin Fire Brigade during the Belfast Blitz.

Steve Doody is an artist who created a sculpture titled “Hexagon (This Could Be It)”. The sculpture is a deep orange, double hexagonal structure made of steel. It is located in a small garden on North Strand Road, just beside Marino College of Further Education. The sculpture shares a home with the North Strand Bombing Memorial, as well as a large mural that reads “Do you know the Five Lamps?”.

Doody is not only a ceramics artist and woodworking teacher, but he also holds a slam-poetry workshop for children, and assists with a tree-planting workshop in the local area. He is also pursuing a master’s degree in fine art at the National College of Art and Design. Originally from Grangecon in County Wicklow, Doody spent two decades as a joiner working in construction before a bout of ill health in 2011 forced him to leave that profession.

After considering his options and his love of making things, he enrolled in a foundation art course at Whitehall College of Further Education. Each year, hundreds of artists submit their work to Sculpture in Context, the largest outdoor sculpture exhibition in Ireland. In 2014, Doody became one of six artists whose pieces were selected and displayed in the National Botanic Gardens for six weeks as part of the exhibition. “Hexagon” won him a prize of €500 that year. The inspiration for “Hexagon” came from nature, according to Doody. The hexagon is the most efficient shape in nature.