Tag: Sculpture Trail

The newest addition to the Sneem Sculpture Trail, 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.

The Sneem Sculpture Trail is a collection of statues and monuments that are located throughout the village of Sneem, around the fair greens and churches. The map shows their exact locations, they are easily accessible to all.

Quick Tour of Sculpture Trail Continue reading “A Guide to Sneem Sculpture Trail”

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”