ROWAN GILLESPIE'S SINGER FROM QUIMPER [QUIMPER SQUARE IN LIMERICK]

Rowan Fergus Meredith Gillespie (born 1953) is an Irish bronze casting sculptor of international renown. Born in Dublin to Irish parents, Gillespie spent his formative years in Cyprus

Influenced by the sculptor Henry Moore and the painter Edvard Munch, Gillespie uses the lost wax casting process to portray the whole gamut of human emotions. Having worked almost exclusively on site specific art since 1996, Gillespie's public works can be found in his native Ireland, Europe, the USA and Canada.

2006 was the 25th anniversary of the formalisation of the twinning of Quimper and Limerick. The anniversary was celebrated in Limerick over the May weekend. His Worship the Mayor, Cllr. Diarmuid Scully, hosted a civic reception on Sunday, 30th April, which was attended by the Deputy Mayor of Quimper, Monsieur Jean-Yves Bozec, Members of the Quimper City Council, and representatives of the Quimper Twinning Committee.

Breton dancers and musicians from Quimper performed in traditional costume in conjunction with Irish dancers from Scoil Rinnce Ui Ruairc.

Quimper is the ancient capital of Cornouaille, Brittany’s most traditional region, and has a distinctive Breton Celtic character. Its name is the Breton word kemper (cognate to Welsh cymer), meaning "confluence". The town developed at the confluence of the rivers Le Steir and L'Odet. Shops and flags celebrate the region's Celtic heritage.

Quimper was originally settled during Roman times. By AD 495, the town had become a Bishopric. It subsequently became the capital of the counts of Cornouailles. In the eleventh century, it was united with the Duchy of Brittany. During the War of the Breton Succession (1341–1364), the town suffered considerable ruin. In 1364, the duchy passed to the House of Montfort.