Sneem Sculpture Trail
Starting Point: South Square (The Green)
Begin your walk in South Square, on the village green. Here you’ll find an architectural steel interpretation of Sneem’s mountainous surroundings, created in memory of former Irish President Cearbhaill Ó Dálaigh.
From here, look to your right. Opposite Sneem Bookshop stands a beautiful bronze statue of wrestling legend Steve ‘Crusher’ Casey, one of Sneem’s most famous sons.
Walk towards Dan Murphy’s Bar and, on your left, you’ll see a statue of one of Kerry football’s all-time greats, John Egan.
The Peaceful Panda
Backtrack past the President Ó Dálaigh sculpture and head back up towards Mace corner shop. Directly across the road, you’ll find The Peaceful Panda, a gift from the People’s Republic of China to the people of Ireland.
The sculpture was presented as a token of gratitude to President Cearbhaill Ó Dálaigh for his role in supporting China’s entry to the United Nations.
The Risen Christ & The Way the Fairies Went
Head down the side of The Green Shop and take your first right. Continue past The Wild Garden towards St. Michael’s Church.
On the left-hand side of the church, just before the public toilets, you’ll find The Risen Christ, a bronze religious sculpture by De La Salle Brother and artist Joseph McNally.
From here, walk across the church entrance and down the stone steps on the right-hand side of the church. In front of you, you’ll see four stone pyramid structures known as The Way the Fairies Went, inspired by local folklore.
The Little Church & Gobnait Ní Bhruadair
Walk back up towards the village and turn left to cross the village bridge. To your right, just over the bridge, you’ll see The Little Church.
Go through the gates into the churchyard and, on your right, you’ll find the gravesite of Gobnait Ní Bhruadair, English aristocrat turned Irish Republican.
Isis – A Gift from Egypt
Leaving the churchyard, take a right and continue towards the Sneem Events Office and Crèche (public toilets available here). In the window, you’ll see a bust of Isis, the Egyptian goddess symbolising protection, motherhood and healing.
This statue was gifted to the people of Ireland by the people of Egypt in 1993.
The Millennium Seat
Continue ahead towards the North Square green. Here you’ll find The Millennium Seat, a stone time capsule containing letters and objects placed inside by Sneem villagers in the year 2000, set to be opened in 2100.
The Tree of Light & Charles de Gaulle Memorial
Take a right alongside the green and then a left at the top. You’ll find The Tree of Light.
Just beyond it stands a memorial to former French President Charles de Gaulle.
After resigning the presidency in 1969, de Gaulle visited Sneem seeking peace and reflection. His wife’s nanny was from the village, and he knew he would find respite from public scrutiny and pressures here.
On the 25th anniversary of his visit, the people of Sneem, with financial assistance from The Ireland Fund for France and Bord Fáilte, commissioned Valentia sculptor Alan Hall to create a bronze plaque mounted on a large local stone boulder. It bears de Gaulle’s famous words about Ireland:
“At this grave moment of my long life, I found here what I sought, to be face to face with myself. Ireland gave me that, in the most delicate, the most friendly way.”
This gentle walking trail weaves together Sneem’s sporting heroes, political history, folklore, faith, and international friendships — all set against the stunning backdrop of the Ring of Kerry.
Listen to an introduction to The Sneem Sculpture Trail by Seanachai Batt Burns here.
Steve ‘Crusher’ Casey
Steve “Crusher” Casey (1908–1987), born in Sneem, County Kerry, was a world-renowned Irish wrestler, boxer, and rower. He became the World Heavyweight Wrestling Champion in 1938, holding the title for nine years, and was known for the ‘Killarney flip’. Born in Sneem, he was one of seven brothers known as the “Toughest Family on Earth” for their prowess in rowing and wrestling. He won the AWA World Heavyweight Championship in 1938 by defeating Lou Thesz. He remained dominant for 15 years, often fighting in the US and returning to Ireland, before retiring. He was an accomplished rower and boxer, notably defeating US heavyweight boxing champion Tiger Warrenton in 1940.
Listen to famed Seanachai Batt Burns talk about The Steve Casey Memorial here.
The Peaceful Panda
The Peaceful Panda is a marble statue representing friendship between China and Ireland, inaugurated in 1986. Located on Pier Road, it commemorates former Irish President Cearbhaill Ó Dálaigh and his role in supporting China’s entry to the United Nations, and serves as a symbol of friendship and peace, gifted by the People’s Republic of China.
You can watch archival footage of the unveiling here.
Listen to the famed Seanachai Batt Burns talking about The Peaceful Panda here.
John Egan Memorial
The John Egan Memorial statue was unveiled on 17th June 2017. It commemorates one of the ‘All-time Greats’ of Kerry football from Tahilla, Sneem. The bronze memorial is a life size statue of John, sculpted by renowned artist, Alan Hall from Valentia and is set in South Square , facing Sneem Sportsfield, where John gave so many displays of his remarkable footballing skills and vision over many years.
John’s outstanding achievements included six All-Ireland titles with Kerry during a playing career which spanned almost a decade. He won five All-Star awards in 1975, 1977, 1978, 1980 and 1982 on top of 11 Munster titles and four National Football Leagues.
The statue was unveiled by a quintet of GAA icons including Micheál Ó Muircheartaigh, his former Kerry manager Mick O’Dwyer, Niall Cahalane and Jimmy Deenihan with a huge crowd in attendance.
Listen to famed Seanachai Batt Burns talk about the John Egan memorial here.
Gobnait Ní Bhruadair’s Grave & Celtic Headstone
Located in the churchyard of the Church of Transfiguration. Born Lady Albinia Broderick to aristocratic British parents, Gobnait would be radicalised by the impoverishment and oppression she witnessed due to British rule in Ireland whilst staying at her father’s property in Cork. A staunch supporter of the 1916 Rising, Gobnait became a member of both Cumann na mBan and Sinn Féin – her dream was to open her own hospital, the ruins of which can still be visited in West Cove just outside of Sneem.
The Way The Fairies Went
“The Way the Fairies Went” is a collection of four distinctive pyramid-shaped stone sculptures. Created by sculptor James Scanlon around 1989-1990 to celebrate the village’s 1987 Tidy Towns win, these structures are inspired by local folklore, the nearby Staigue Fort, and the “siodh ghaoth” (fairy wind). The pyramids are made from local stone. They were inspired by the surrounding landscape (hills, bogs), local myths, and the concept of fairy paths, with funding from the Arts Council of Ireland.
Listen to famed Seanachai Batt Burns talk about The Way The Fairies Went here.
The Risen Christ
The Risen Christ statue is a notable piece of public art located in the grounds of St. Michael’s Church. Sculpted by the Irish De La Salle Brother and artist Joseph McNally. The bronze statue was presented to the village by Dermot Kinlen S.C.
Listen to famed Seanachai Batt Burns talk about The Risen Christ here.
President Ó Dálaigh Memorial
The Irish National Memorial to the late President of Ireland, Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh is a steel structure created by Cork sculptor, 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.
Listen to famed Seachachia, Batt Burns talk about this sculpture here.