Return of a Wexford hero: Nicky rackard statue to get pride of place

HURLING LEGEND Nicky Rackard is to be commemorated in his native Wexford as a specially commissioned bronze statue of him will be unveiled in the town’s Selskar Square this weekend.

One of the most charismatic hurlers of all time, the dashing full forward became a household name when, along with his brothers, he helped Wexford to two All-Irelands in the 1950s.

Now Wexford Borough Council have commissioned leading British portrait sculptor Mark Richards to cast a larger than life-size statue of Rackard in his hurling prime.

The statue costs about €120,000, and is being paid for under the Per Cent for Art scheme, whereby 1 per cent of the cost of funded building projects can be allocated to the commissioning of an artwork.

Wexford town clerk Pat Collins said it was a fitting tribute to one of Ireland’s finest sportsmen.

“Nicky Rackard burst on to the scene in the 1950s and was a hero to people, not only in Wexford but across Ireland, lighting up what was then an otherwise dark time,” said Mr Collins.

“The team is also credited with revolutionising the game of hurling and in doing so lifting Wexford to the game’s top table.

“This statue by Mark Richards is a very fitting tribute to his skill and leadership.”

The sculptor travelled to Wexford to speak with Rackard’s children, Berna, Marion and Bobby, and to learn about hurling.

“In October, I took a life-size head of Nicky over to Wexford so I could work on it with members of the family, and that was invaluable,” said Richards.

“I also met with Kevin Gore, who showed me how to hold a hurl and hurler maker Philip Doyle, who made me a hurl like the one that Nicky would have used in the 1950s, so as to be accurate as possible.”

The statue will be unveiled at Selskar Square in Wexford as part of the Set the Heather Blazing Festival on the St Patrick’s Bank Holiday Monday.