AN ARTIST has had two 2.7m (9ft) sculptures stolen from her home.
Sandra Bell, who has exhibited in London, the US, Oslo and across Ireland, says she is “devastated” at the theft of the cast bronze pieces and suspects they have been taken across the Border to Northern Ireland where they will be sold on as scrap metal.
Cast bronze has soared in value in recent times and this is believed to be the motive behind a series of thefts of public art around the country recently.
Last year a bronze sculpture of a school of fish was stolen from a park beside the Fane river in Dundalk.
“The price of cast bronze has escalated by 300 per cent in the last three years and I believe they were stolen for their value as scrap metal, which would be about €5,000,” Bell explained.
She and her family were unaware the pieces had been stolen until they woke on Tuesday morning to find they were missing. Gates into the property had been broken by the gang.
Bell said a number of men, a trailer and probably some lifting equipment would have been needed to remove Eternity and Granuaile from her home in Killin near Dundalk, Co Louth.
“Together they weigh 1½ tonnes. They took a year to make and I’m devastated. I believe that this is the first time an Irish sculptor has had such a huge loss. The sad thing is that having spent so much time and money making these sculptures they will no doubt be broken up and sold for scrap.”
She has offered a reward for the return of the sculptures, with a greater reward if they are returned in their original condition.
Gardaí believe they were taken away in a trailer that was stolen locally. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Garda in Hackballscross on 042-9377142.