Author: Jane O'Sullivan

Located in the corner of the North Square is a memorial stone devoted to the memory of a President of France.
Charles de Gaulle visited Sneem immediately after resigning the presidency in 1969. Here, he sought a haven of peace and tranquility for two short weeks in the winter of his years.  Why Sneem?
Continue reading “Charles de Gaulle Memorial”

The third memorial to President O’Dalaigh is a white marble panda at the entrance to the Pier Road. It was donated in friendship by the Peoples Republic of China in 1986.  Cearbhaill O’Dalaigh had visited China and had been an early advocate of Chinese admission to the United Nations.

See RTÉ News report broadcast on 27 May 1986 which describes its unveiling.

The Peaceful Panda is part of the Sneem Sculpture Trail.

In the South Square Fair Green rests the Irish National Memorial to the late President of Ireland, Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh.  It is a steel structure created by Cork woman, Vivienne Roche and it was unveiled in 1983 by President Patrick Hillery.  The artist describes it as reminiscent of mountains and megalithic structures which would have been of particular interest to the late President.

President O’Dalaigh lived in Sneem for the last year of his life and was buried in Sneem cemetery after a State Funeral in the village.  This memorial was the first erected in what has become the Sneem Sculpture Trail.

The accompanying plaque describes the creative process by the artist, Vivienne Roche Continue reading “Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh Memorial”