Unkind cut unmans brazen Irish ancient

A LIFESIZE bronze of the great Irish elk, which became extinct 5,000 years ago, today stands bereft of its maleness.

A LIFESIZE bronze of the great Irish elk, which became extinct 5,000 years ago, today stands bereft of its maleness.

Following an open competition run by Cork County Council 18 months ago, the 14 foot high bronze, with antlers spanning 12 feet, was placed in a commanding position overlooking the new Cork Mallow highway. The work of Cork sculptor Kevin Holland, the bronze was greatly admired by the public with one apparent exception.

Mr Holland told The Irish Times yesterday that the bronze was reinforced precisely to guard against vandals. It was constructed using bronze sheets overlapping a stainless steel frame, and was an exact replica of the original species.

"During research on the project, I consulted the department of geology at University College, Cork and the Natural History Museum in Dublin. Based on skeletons that have been discovered, my bronze stands 14 feet high from the hoof to the tip of the antlers. I had to guess at the size of the genitalia for a male but the experts tell me I got it right. The council commissioned the work as part of the EU campaign to adorn motorways with interesting works of art, and we were hoping that it Would be left in place without being touched", he added.

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However, two months ago, when he checked the bronze, Mr Holland noticed a one inch scratch mark on the scrotum. "Obviously, someone who knew something about metalwork had decided to have a go, and when I checked it again recently, the scrotum had been almost completely hacked off. It's a bit like the bull on the 5p without his equipment. Because of the toughness of the materials used, it must have taken whoever did it a lot of time", he said.

The £20,000 bronze, positioned on a height over the motorway, is widely regarded as one of the council's more successful forays into the world of art. It took four months to complete and since it arrived 18 months ago, many tourists have stopped to photograph it.

Yesterday, Mr Holland said he intended to repair the bronze, but to do so would entail getting a generator and welding equipment into place, "which is going to be very tricky". It would cost less than £100 to carry out the repairs, and this time, even stronger materials would be used to ensure its private parts remain in place.

"It's a pity, really, because it was for all the people of Cork. No individual had the right to disfigure it" Mr Holland added.