COUNCIL SCULPTURE POLICY SKEWED AGAINST DUBLIN SOUTH - HUMPHREYS
Issued : Sunday 20 November, 2011
Cllr Richard Humphreys, the Labour Party Councillor for the Stillorgan Ward, has expressed concern that Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown arts policy is seriously skewed against the Dublin South constituency.
“Public art and sculptures can add tremendously to the character and atmosphere of an area. For example for many decades, the statute of the Fiddler of Dooney has been a lovely centrepiece of the Stillorgan Shopping Centre” Humphreys said.
“At the November Council meeting, I submitted a question to the Council to ask for a list of Council sponsored sculptures or public art, broken down by area. The results show a startling imbalance in the distribution of public art.”
“Less that 25% of the sculptures (10 out of 42) are located in the Dublin South Dáil constituency. The vast majority of sculptures are located on the Dún Laoghaire side of the County.”
“Of the 6 local electoral areas in the Council, the Stillorgan Ward fares the worst in terms of Council-sponsored public art, despite having two large parks and many green areas suitable for sculptures.” Humphreys said
“The Council lists two sculptures in the Stillorgan Ward for which it is responsible. The first of these is stated to be in Ard Lorcain in Stillorgan. However there is in fact no sculpture in Ard Lorcain. The second sculpture is listed as “Eden Park Drive/Goatstown”. However, Eden Park Drive is not in the Stillorgan Ward – it is in Dundrum. Furthermore there is no sculpture on Eden Park Drive.”
“I am somewhat surprised at the inaccurate nature of the Council’s list but more significantly I am disappointed that Dublin South in general and Stillorgan in particular have been short-changed in terms of public art. I am calling on the Manager to rectify this situation for future locations of statutes or other public art.” Humphreys said.
“To add to the unsatisfactory situation, Dún Laoghaire does not seem to know what to do with all of its abundance of art. The inability to agree on a location for the magnificent “Gateway” sculpture in Dún Laoghaire town has meant that this sculpture remains in storage.”
“We have also seen a series of arts events concentrated on the Dún Laoghaire side of the County. The wards in Dublin South need a fair crack of the whip.” Humphreys said.
Ends
NOTE FOR EDITORS – TEXT OF CLLR HUMPHREYS’ QUESTION AND REPLY IS AS FOLLOWS
MEETING OF DÚN LAOGHAIRE-RATHDOWN COUNTY COUNCIL
14TH NOVEMBER 2011
SCULPTURES/PUBLIC ART IN THE COUNCIL AREA
Question: Councillor R. Humphreys
“To ask the Manager for a comprehensive list of all sculpture or other public art in
the Council area, and the locations in each case, itemised on a ward by ward basis?”
Reply:
DATE LOCATION
ELECTORAL WARD
1986 Entrance to Killiney Hill Park
Ballybrack
1987 Blackrock By-pass, Blackrock
Blackrock
1990 Kill Avenue, Fire Station
Dun Laoghaire
1991 West Pier Pumping Station
Dun Laoghaire
1992 Brookfield
Blackrock
1995 Loughlinstown roundabout on the N11
Ballybrack
1996 Sandyford Village
Glencullen
1997 Shankill Village, Shankill
Ballybrack
1997
not sited
(in storage Marlay Park)
1997 Rochestown Gardens, Rochestown
House Dun Laoghaire
1997 Carriglea Gardens, Carriglea
Dun Laoghaire
1997 Cois Culann, Killiney Hill Rd
Ballybrack
Stillorgan
1997 Ard Lorcan, Stillorgan
1997 Glasthule Buildings, Glasthule
Dun Laoghaire
1998 NewtownSmith, Sandycove
Dun Laoghaire
1998 Library Road, Dun Laoghaire
Dun Laoghaire
St. Kevins, Sallynoggin, Dun Laoghaire
Dun Laoghaire
1999 County Hall, Dun Laoghaire
Dun Laoghaire
not sited
1999
(in storage Cabinteely Park)
1999 Brookfield, Blackrock
Blackrock
2001 Killiney Beach
Ballybrack
2001-2003. Cois Cairn, Shankill
Ballybrack
2002 currently in storage
Dun Laoghaire
2002 Eden Park Dr/Goatstown
Stillorgan
1986 Blackrock Park Blackrock
1986 Toverna park Blackrock Blackrock
1917 Opposite Dundrum SC Dundrum
1823 Dun Laoghaire Pier Dun Laoghaire
1995
Ferry Terminal, Civic Plaza, Dun
Laoghaire Dun Laoghaire
c1920 Haigh Terrace, Dun Laoghaire Dun Laoghaire
1986 Crosthwaite Park, Dun Laoghaire Dun Laoghaire
1986 Eden park, Glasthule Dun Laoghaire
1985 Newtownsmith, Sandycove Dun Laoghaire
1986 Swan's Hollow, Glenageary Dun Laoghaire
1986 Marlay Park Glencullen
1983 Marlay Park Glencullen
1983 Marlay Park Glencullen
1987 Marlay Park Glencullen
1994 Main st, Dundrum Dundrum
2006
now sited in Dalkey Unit for Older
Persons Dun Laoghaire
2006 Bentley Villas, Dun Laoghaire Dun Laoghaire
2008 M50, Sandyford interchange Glencullen
Contact: Kenneth Redmond, Arts Officer.
Cllr 
