Write a commentToday was an important day for Newry and in particular Traders and Residents in the Canal Street, Sugar Island and Merchants Quay area of the City. It marked the unveiling of the Newry Canal Public Art Feature entitled ‘The Newry Navvy’. The Deputy Mayor, Cllr Karen McKevitt had the honour of unveiling the Statue.
The newly installed Newry Navvy Art Feature cost of £40,000 and is located on Sugar Island Bridge in the heart of Newry’s historic Canal Street Townscape Heritage Conservation Area seeks to recognise and symbolise the history and special character of the Newry Canal, which was the first summit canal in Britain and Ireland, built in 1742.
Speaking on behalf of the project promoters, Canal Street Area Heritage Partnership chairman, Mr Joe Rooney stated that, ‘The original Canal Labourers were called Navigators, later shortened to Navvy’s, a phrase associated world-wide with Irish Labourers’. He added, ‘Navvy’s often lived a hard, sometimes brutal life, bringing with them lrish culture, tradition, language, sports & values across the globe. This feature will give long overdue recognition to the contribution they played not only in Newry, but throughout the world’.
Joanna Harvey speaking on behalf of the Arts Council as one of the main scheme funders stated that, “Public art brings an important creative and humanising element to any surrounding. At its best, it can even improve our quality of life by heightening our sense of place, expressing community identity and values, and strengthening civic values. The Newry Navigator celebrates the contribution local labourers made to Newry’s history, and recognises their impact on the economy and society”. The other main scheme partner of DSD contributed £20,260 to the project.
Sculptor Mr Barry Linnane stated that, ‘The Newry Navigator proposal depicts a typical navvy, his tools, luggage and culture, reflecting a life of hard labour and emigration. A bronze plaque & bench is also provided to celebrate the navvy and his story, the Newry Canal, its history and effects on local economic and social life’.
The project promoters and funders behind the project include the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, Department for Social Development, Newry & Mourne District Council and the Canal Street Area Heritage Partnership.{igallery id="4019" cid="16" pid="2" type="classic" children="1" showmenu="1" tags="" limit="0"}
