A chara, - We are responding to the observations of Donall O Morain (August 17th) and Uinseann Mac Eoin (August 20th) on the erection of a statue to Padraig Pearse on the site of Nelson's Pillar in the 1980s.
The erection of a statue in O'Connell Street was not a matter for the Government, but for Dublin Corporation. Therefore, there could not have been a stipulation or condition made by the then Government, as stated by Donall O Morain. The Government donated £30,000 to the Pearse Commemoration (later and currently Fonduireachtan Phiarsaigh) for costs in regard to a national pageant and a country-wide bilingual essay competition, among other activities. In fact, the onus of mounting a commemoration of the centenary of the birth of Pearse was taken off the Government's hands for a mere pittance.
The Pearse Centenary Committee 1979 was founded in 1978 and consisted of representatives of 26 national cultural, professional and sporting bodies, encompassing all shades of political opinion.
In 1978 the committee commissioned the late Mr Gary Trimble to design a statue portraying Pearse as an educationist. He produced a model which the committee accepted. Briefly, the statue would be of bronze on a marble plinth, 35 feet high and encompassing a fountain and an encircling walkway. Pearse, in his teacher's pose, surrounded by four students, would form the apex of the statue. Extracts from his writings would be engraved on the sides of the octagonal base. It would be in keeping with the height of the buildings on O'Connell Street.
An application, including maps, drawings and all required information, was submitted to Bardas Atha Cliath and three deputations were received by the city engineer's office. (Incidentally, it was made clear that all costs would be borne by the committee.) In spite of clarification, the application was refused. The following points are some of the arguments against the project, given by the officials of Bardas Atha Cliath.
By reason of excessive size and inappropriate design, the proposed structure would be unduly at variance with the character of O'Connell Street and the facade of the General Post Office;
There was already too much "street furniture" in O'Connell Street;
The view from Talbot Street to the Wellington Monument would be impeded(!);
A fountain would not be allowed under any circumstances;
The site envisaged was not available.
We proposed another site north of the Nelson pillar site. Again we were refused. Since then, that site, with water, was approved, and a concrete monstrosity was build with an imposing title, but properly called by the denizens of this fair city "The Floozie in the Jacuzzi".
Efforts to achieve our aim continued for a good number of years. Eventually the members of Bardas Atha Cliath decided to let the cultural committee decide on the matter. A meeting of that committee was moving towards a favourable decision when one member objected in such a vociferous, loud and vindictive way as to cause quite a commotion. Such was the commotion that the chairman had to close the meeting. The subject was not discussed again.
The offer of Uinseann Mac Eoin to make a generous subscription to the erection of a memorial to our greatest patriot is greatly appreciated. After all, Pearse was a Dublin man, who, knowing his history, declared after the Rising: "Dublin has redeemed itself". Unfortunately, the Dubliners of today "have disgraced themselves again". - Is mise,
Sean O Donagain (Capt, Rtd.), Treasurer, Blathnaid O Bradaigh, Former Secretary, Fonduireacht an Phiarsaigh, Cnoc Mhuirfean, Co Atha Cliath.