Taoiseach Bertie Ahern had promised that, if returned to government, Fianna Fáil would allocate €5m for a permanent “monument to peace” to be located in the border region.. Today, the Republic of Ireland’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Dermot Ahern, announced the launch of an international competition, with an allocated €5m, to select the design of the monument to be sited at Carrickcarnan, Co Louth, near the Louth-Armagh border.
John Laird (Lord Laird of Artigarvan) is unionism’s jester. His memoir A Struggle To Be Heard ” by a True Ulster Liberal” (from Slugger’s shop on Amazon here) might serve more as a heavy stocking filler than anybody’s idea of a main present. In it he wears the masks of comedy and tragedy to turn the [...] read our review »
It took me a long time to warm to advertising agencies. The first time I worked with one I was working in sales management on Fairy Washing Up Liquid. I was due to attend a meeting at which I was to be told what consumers really thought of the brand. I remember my reluctance to [...] read our review »
I have to declare an interest (sculptor) but it would be hard to beat this:
http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/images/photos/derry/citywithout/statuesbr2.htm
Personally I think infrastructural projects are the best monuments to peace in the border region, like the motorway between Dundalk and Newry, the proposed bridge over Carlingford Lough, the Shannon-Erne waterway. How about spending that five million on some part of the Derry to Dublin road, for example?
‘Personally I think infrastructural projects are the best monuments to peace in the border region, like the motorway between Dundalk and Newry, the proposed bridge over Carlingford Lough, the Shannon-Erne waterway. How about spending that five million on some part of the Derry to Dublin road, for example? ‘
I agree . The country has more than enough statues. Apart from that Ahern is being somewhat premature . I’d give it 10 years before I’d start taking the present ‘peace’ for granted.
Because public art plays an important part in civil society.
We need both.
How about a life style replica of that Crossmaglen watchtower place? Ouite an attractive building in a post modernist style. You a sculptor for a living Joe?
Wish I were, Dewi. My second cousin.
“I have to declare an interest (sculptor) but it would be hard to beat this:”
What about two lifesize bronze statutes of the chuckle brothers shaking hands.
May be this will suffice for Danny Kennedy MLA instead of the latest nonsense he wishes to impose in the area:
Questions to the Minister for Regional Development
1. Mr D Kennedy(Newry and Armagh):
To ask the Minister for Regional Development to provide a timescale within which his department will erect appropriate signage at the border between the A1 and M1, to indicate entry into and exit from Northern Ireland.
(AQW 4312/08)
How about a wee lost wean at the end of a long bronze road looking back at images of twisted bodies in cavo-relievo – or is there such a thing as negative relief.
Then again, perhaps I’m being too negative altogether!
Interesting idea, Alan.
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Moving from negative to positive – somehow very apt!
Although the religious iconography is difficult to take. . . . .”Stop looking at me!”
how about doing the monument and road sign thing in one. all you would need would be a big arrow pointing straight ahead and the word ‘Themmuns!’ below it. the sign would be exactly the same going the other way!
Eranu, except for the fact that the people of the locality don’t view those on the other side of the british imposed dividing line to be anything other than the cousins, brothers, schoolmates and neighbours that they are.
Carrickarnan is a completely nationalist area that has been artificially divided by a foreign government.
joeCanuck: “Because public art plays an important part in civil society. ”
What of it — it also played an important role in less than civil societies…
eranu: “how about doing the monument and road sign thing in one. all you would need would be a big arrow pointing straight ahead and the word ‘Themmuns!’ below it. the sign would be exactly the same going the other way! ”
Potentially too subtle for some in the respective peanut galleries… but more than apt.
“What of it—it also played an important role in less than civil societies…”
Too true, Dread. Perhaps I might have worded it better. I simply believe in public art to brighten up, hopefully, our sometimes dreary urban life.
To ask the Minister for Regional Development to provide a timescale within which his department will erect appropriate signage at the border between the A1 and M1, to indicate entry into and exit from Northern Ireland.
Danny Kennedy needs to catch himself on.
The area where the A1/M1 crosses the border is one of the most Gaelic/Nationalist in the country. A bilingual welcome to Armagh or Ulster would be fine but anything else would just be taken down.
I very much welcome the sentiments of a peace memorial/monument but in the words of James Connolly “Ireland without it’s people is nothing to me”,perhaps some kind of living memorial would be more apt,some kind of bursary for young people to do a degree in peace studies on a north/south basis with a priority given to those who have lost someone as a result of the “troubles”.
in the local dunalk papers last week SF’s Arthur Morgan said he and his party opposed this move.
Is this SF opposition causd by fear of wider recognition of the FF connection/role in the process ™and its legacy? Lets not forget this initiative was announced by the leader of fianna fail at an FF not an Irish govt event. Part of the battle within for history? Theres a thesis there somewhere!!!
I think it would be a good way to mark the border.