An expensive, life-size, steel sculpture of a man sitting on a park bench has been stolen from Kilkenny Castle Park.
It was dressed in the blue and gold colours of Tipperary and was taken between 9 p.m. on Tuesday night and 8 a.m. yesterday, after the park closed. A similar sculpture of a man wearing the black and amber colours of Kilkenny was left untouched by the robbers.
The art works form part of a collection being exhibited in the park as part of the Kilkenny Arts Festival.
There are 10 in the series of works exhibited which is entitled "Watchers".
According to the Arts Festival programme, the sculptures are "nearly denied existence by reflecting everything around them".
Garda Sgt Pat Murphy, of Kilkenny Garda Station said the stolen piece, by celebrated US artist Jim Collins, was valued at around €4,500.
"The theft had to have been carried out by at least two men because of the weight of the three-inch-thick piece of sheet metal used in the work," Sgt Murphy said.
The sculpture is believed to weigh in the region of 400 lbs.
He said the criminals first unscrewed the sculpture from the limestone seat holding it and then disposed of it.
He asked anyone who was in the vicinity of the Castle Park on Tuesday night or early yesterday morning to contact Kilkenny Garda station at 056-7722222.