ANNA LIVIA BRONZE BY EAMONN O'DOHERTY LOCALLY KNOWN AS THE FLOOZIE IN THE JACUZZI
Anna Livia is a bronze sculpture located in Croppies Memorial Park in Dublin. It was formerly located on O'Connell Street.
I have never liked this sculpture and the poor lady looks very uncomfortable with no support for her back.
Many tourist guides and reviewers describe this as being located in the Croppies Acre or the Croppy's Acre when it is in fact located in a very small park named the "Croppies Memorial Park" which is located closer the the Sean Heuston Bridge. Some argue that the distinction is not important as they are separate sections of the same park. But having encountered many tourists who failed to locate Anna Livia I believe that it is important to be aware that there are two parks or two distinct separate sections.
The larger park was closed to the public for many years and it was until recently managed by the Office of Public Works. My understanding is that the smaller park was always managed by Dublin City Council but they are now responsible for both parks but opening hours are different as one is open 24 hours every day.
Designed by the sculptor Éamonn O'Doherty, the monument was commissioned by businessman Michael Smurfit, in memory of his father, for the Dublin Millennium celebrations in 1988.
The monument is a personification of the River Liffey (Abhainn na Life in Irish) which runs through the city. Anna Livia Plurabelle is the name of a character in James Joyce's Finnegans Wake who also embodies the river. In the monument's original location, the river was represented as a young woman sitting on a slope with water flowing past her. Dubliners nicknamed it the Floozie in the Jacuzzi, a nickname that was encouraged by the sculptor.
The official story was that the monument was removed from its site on O'Connell Street in 2001 to make room for the Spire of Dublin. However, it is most likely that it was moved because it was a magnet for litter and anti-social behaviour. Also, the original structure was badly constructed and it was described by many as “crude” and “provincial”. Worse still it was not nearly as popular as some would have you believe.
In late February 2011, partly reworked and refurbished, the statue was relocated to Croppies Memorial Park next to the Liffey, near Heuston station.
I have never liked this sculpture and the poor lady looks very uncomfortable with no support for her back.
Many tourist guides and reviewers describe this as being located in the Croppies Acre or the Croppy's Acre when it is in fact located in a very small park named the "Croppies Memorial Park" which is located closer the the Sean Heuston Bridge. Some argue that the distinction is not important as they are separate sections of the same park. But having encountered many tourists who failed to locate Anna Livia I believe that it is important to be aware that there are two parks or two distinct separate sections.
The larger park was closed to the public for many years and it was until recently managed by the Office of Public Works. My understanding is that the smaller park was always managed by Dublin City Council but they are now responsible for both parks but opening hours are different as one is open 24 hours every day.
Designed by the sculptor Éamonn O'Doherty, the monument was commissioned by businessman Michael Smurfit, in memory of his father, for the Dublin Millennium celebrations in 1988.
The monument is a personification of the River Liffey (Abhainn na Life in Irish) which runs through the city. Anna Livia Plurabelle is the name of a character in James Joyce's Finnegans Wake who also embodies the river. In the monument's original location, the river was represented as a young woman sitting on a slope with water flowing past her. Dubliners nicknamed it the Floozie in the Jacuzzi, a nickname that was encouraged by the sculptor.
The official story was that the monument was removed from its site on O'Connell Street in 2001 to make room for the Spire of Dublin. However, it is most likely that it was moved because it was a magnet for litter and anti-social behaviour. Also, the original structure was badly constructed and it was described by many as “crude” and “provincial”. Worse still it was not nearly as popular as some would have you believe.
In late February 2011, partly reworked and refurbished, the statue was relocated to Croppies Memorial Park next to the Liffey, near Heuston station.
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