Tag Archives: sculpture

PROBABLY unknown to most younger readers, Kilnamona’s Mike McTigue is one of Clare’s all time sporting heroes, having won the World Light Heavyweight Title in 1923. With the centenary approaching, the world champion’s namesake Michael McTigue is going to create a new monument to one of Kilnamona’s most illustrious sons. Michael is actually a distant relative of the boxer, while locals Nicholas Rynne, Kevin Rynne and Antoinette McCormack are grand nephews and a grand niece of the man who took the belt. With the Civil War raging around Dublin, McTigue won the title on St Patrick’s Day, 1923, with a points victory over Senagalese fighter Battling Siki. Unlike today when there are numerous belts and four major sanctioning bodies, in 1923 there was just one world champion. At light heavyweight, McTigue was the man. The story of the fight is worthy a book in itself, with Siki having recently become the champion against the odds; McTigue being an outsider but …

A stone sculpture commissioned by Cumann Staire is Dúchais Chora Finne and  created by Kilnamona sculptor Michael McTigue has recently been erecdted in Corofin. It is in memory of the famous march of the local forty shilling freeholders, led by Fr John Murphy PP of Kilnaboy Rath and Corofin,  into Ennis in July 1828, in support of Daniel O’ Connell’s election. With the famous Burren terrain depicted in the background, the monument shows Fr. Murphy on his horse and gig followed by the local 40 shilling freeholders carrying tree branches in support of O’ Connell. St. Bridget’s Church, the first architect designed Catholic Church in the Killaloe Diocese since the reformation, built by Murphy in 1822, features in the background. It was here that Murphy made his famous speech in the Irish language to his parishioners seeking their support for O’Connell and Catholic Emancipation. This speech was widely reported both locally and well beyond the area and was witnessed by …

Visual art works and sculpture pieces responding to the theme ‘Home’ will be exhibited at glór in Ennis from May 18 to June 16 at the annual Embrace for Arts and People with Disabilities exhibition. Each year up to 300 participants with different abilities engage with local professional artists who teach a wide range of visual art and performance forms including environmental art, film, animation, textiles, mosaic, music, dance and drama. This year’s Embrace exhibition and performance event presents a culmination of their unique, colourful, bold and sensitive works. Established in 2001 and funded by the Arts Council, the Embrace programme works with up to 20 organisations and 30 professional artists on its Arts & Disability Programme to provide art and performance workshops for up to 300 participants per year . For 17 years local and national organisations such as the HSE, Enable Ireland, The Dulick Centre, West Clare Mental Health and the Brothers of Charity have partnered with the …

A shield commemorating Brian Ború in his birthplace will be unveiled in Killaloe this Saturday afternoon. Locals and visitors will be able to admire this piece of sculpture, which was forged by turning pieces of “scrap” copper into a Brian Ború “treasure”. It will be mounted on the wall outside the Killaloe Library/Brian Ború Heritage Centre for the enjoyment of passers-by. This piece was commissioned this year by the Féile Brian Ború committee to commemorate the famous High King. During Féile Brian Ború in July, the pieces for this unique mural were created by adults and children, who took part in copper craft workshops with silversmith, Suzi Lewisohn at the CELT Traditional Craft Experience. The shield is a two-dimensional copper sculpture, using different techniques, including stampwork, riveting and wirework. This artwork was created and finished by East Clare-based blacksmith, Mark Wilson and the design for the piece was taken from a woodcut created by artist and printmaker, Suzannah O’Reilly, with …