Sculpture of red deer unveiled in Killarney

A bronze life-size sculpture of two stags locked in confrontation, erected in front of the town’s courthouse, was unveiled in…

A bronze life-size sculpture of two stags locked in confrontation, erected in front of the town’s courthouse, was unveiled in Killarney at the weekend.

The sculpture, by Don Cronin, celebrates the saving of the Killarney red deer, the oldest species in the country. They were brought back from near extinction by the Kerry Red Deer Society 40 years ago when numbers had plummeted. The €70,000 project has been funded out of the Per Cent for Art scheme.

A recent council meeting heard there was no money to replace the temporary public toilets, to the rear of the statue, with a permanent structure. Town clerk Michael O’Leary said he was still pursuing funding.

The sculpture unveiling, by Mayor Seán Counihan, was attended by local TD Michael Healy-Rae, who has called for a cull of deer because of an increase in numbers.