6th Year:9th Feb
Hi Class,I would like to view The Gaelic Chieftain by Maurice Harron,Curlew Mountains Co.Roscommon.
You may have seen this many times on your travels.
The Gaelic Chieftain is one Ireland's most magnificent road-side sculptures. Overlooking the site of the Battle of the Curlew Pass near Boyle, this impressive metal piece can be found on the N4 bypass about 2 kilometers north east of the battlefield. Just off the motorway, adjacent to the sculpture is a picnic area, where one can sit and take in the magnificent views over Lough Key.
This statue, sculptured by Maurice Harron, was unveiled on April 12th 1999, in commemoration of this 400 year old victory. It depicts Red Hugh O Donnell who, on 15th August 1599, led a Gaelic Irish force to ambush the English as they marched through a pass in the Curlew Mountains. The English forces suffered heavy casualties and were defeated. Losses by allied Irish forces were not recorded but were probably minimal.
The Curlew Pass was the scene of the last victory won by the rebels during the war, when a panicking English force was again routed and suffered significant losses in August 1602.
Maurice Harron was born inMaurice harron in the studio Derry, Northern Ireland.
In 1983 Maurice choose to stop teaching and return to a fulltime arts practice. He painted at first but found increasingly his subjects in three dimensions. His focus on sculpture gave his work an unexpected return when he successfully won tender for a public sculpture commission. This new avenue for his work has enabled Maurice make art that holds a more public space. Maurice Harron is noted for public art works of abstract and life like figures mixed with symbols and pattern. He casts bronze and aluminium and constructs cuts and welds metals such as marine standard stainless steels, brass and copper in his own studio/foundry.
The decision to commission works from Maurice Harron can be made by government departments, local councils and community groups they represent opinions from a wide politico-social spectrum, people from all walks of life in Ireland. Maurice Harron realised the challenge to make public art was his to address. Making sculptures for public locations has focused his work to explore themes that connect to contemporary social issues. In his sculpture he has used historical and mythical figures as well as the huge cast of people who make irish cultural identity rich and generous. It is not insignificant to attest that other issues of belief, ethnicity, the political tensions of the past and the hopes of a better future are recurrent themes that Harron does not shy away from in his public art. A failure to engage does not seem to be option nor is there any scope to extend recursive overbearing themes and symbols.
You may have seen this many times on your travels.
The Gaelic Chieftain is one Ireland's most magnificent road-side sculptures. Overlooking the site of the Battle of the Curlew Pass near Boyle, this impressive metal piece can be found on the N4 bypass about 2 kilometers north east of the battlefield. Just off the motorway, adjacent to the sculpture is a picnic area, where one can sit and take in the magnificent views over Lough Key.
This statue, sculptured by Maurice Harron, was unveiled on April 12th 1999, in commemoration of this 400 year old victory. It depicts Red Hugh O Donnell who, on 15th August 1599, led a Gaelic Irish force to ambush the English as they marched through a pass in the Curlew Mountains. The English forces suffered heavy casualties and were defeated. Losses by allied Irish forces were not recorded but were probably minimal.
The Curlew Pass was the scene of the last victory won by the rebels during the war, when a panicking English force was again routed and suffered significant losses in August 1602.
Maurice Harron was born inMaurice harron in the studio Derry, Northern Ireland.
In 1983 Maurice choose to stop teaching and return to a fulltime arts practice. He painted at first but found increasingly his subjects in three dimensions. His focus on sculpture gave his work an unexpected return when he successfully won tender for a public sculpture commission. This new avenue for his work has enabled Maurice make art that holds a more public space. Maurice Harron is noted for public art works of abstract and life like figures mixed with symbols and pattern. He casts bronze and aluminium and constructs cuts and welds metals such as marine standard stainless steels, brass and copper in his own studio/foundry.
The decision to commission works from Maurice Harron can be made by government departments, local councils and community groups they represent opinions from a wide politico-social spectrum, people from all walks of life in Ireland. Maurice Harron realised the challenge to make public art was his to address. Making sculptures for public locations has focused his work to explore themes that connect to contemporary social issues. In his sculpture he has used historical and mythical figures as well as the huge cast of people who make irish cultural identity rich and generous. It is not insignificant to attest that other issues of belief, ethnicity, the political tensions of the past and the hopes of a better future are recurrent themes that Harron does not shy away from in his public art. A failure to engage does not seem to be option nor is there any scope to extend recursive overbearing themes and symbols.
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