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The creator of the Newry Navy Sculpture has added to his Newry portfolio with today's unveiling of Newry's 1916 Easter Rising participant, Patrick Rankin at Dublin Bridge in the city.
The artwork was commissioned as part of Newry, Mourne and Down District Council's Decade of Centenaries Programme.
In unveiling the artwork in recognition of Patrick Rankin, the only Newry person who quite literally got on his bike and cycled 70 miles to Dublin to take part in the 1916 Easter Rising, Councillor Gillian Fitzpatrick, Chairperson of Council, reflected “While we may all share the same history on the island of Ireland, we have different experiences and interpretations of it. I believe the unveiling today will play its part in helping us all explore and re-examine our history”.
Amongst the attendees were many members of the Rankin family, and Council were delighted they could share in the event, and took a direct role in the unveiling ceremony.
At the reception, Dr Éamon Phoenix delivered an historical talk on ‘Patrick Rankin, the North and the 1916 Easter Rising’, and Barry Linnane presented a maquette of the artwork to Councillor Gillian Fitzpatrick, Chairperson and Noreen Cunningham, Curator, Newry & Mourne Museum.
Councillor Gillian Fitzpatrick, Chairperson of Council expressed the Council’s appreciation to everyone who had helped the project come to fruition, and in particular, thanked all the Rankin family members who had taken the time to attend the event stating, “this lasting tribute to Patrick Rankin has been an appropriate way to bring to a close the Council’s very successful 2016 Decade of Centenaries Programme”.
Preasráiteas Chomhairle Ceantair an Iúir, Mhúrn agus an Dúin
Nochtadh ealaín phoiblí in ómós Phádraig Uí Raincín Déardaoin 22 Nollaig 2016
Déardaoin 22 Nollaig 2016 nocht Comhairle Ceantair an Iúir, Mhúrn agus an Dúin ealaín phoiblí Phádraig Uí Raincín ag Droichead Bhaile Átha Cliath, Iúr Chinn Trá. Coimisiúnadh an dealbh seo mar chuid de Chlár Deich mBliana na gCuimhneachán Céad Bliain. Chruthaigh an dealbhóir Barra Ó Linneáin an píosa seo agus tá a chuid ealaíne poiblí le feiceáil fud fad na tíre.
Nocht an Comhairleoir, Gillian Mhic Giolla Phádraig, Cathaoirleach na Comhairle, an dealbh in ómós Phádraig Uí Raincín, an t-aon Iúrach amháin a chuaigh ar an rothar ón Iúr go Baile Átha Cliath chun páirt a ghlacadh in Éirí Amach na Cásca sa bhliain 1916, turas 70 míle ar a laghad. Luaigh sí ‘ Cé go bhfuil stair dár gcoiteann againn ar an oileán seo, in Éirinn, tá taithí eile againne uilig den stair chéanna agus is iomaí léamh atá againn ar an stair seo. Creidim go gcuireann an nochtadh seo inniu leis an phlé ó thaobh stair na tíre seo.’
I measc na ndaoine cruinnithe ag an ócáid seo bhí muintir Uí Raincín ann agus bhí áthas ar an Chomhairle go raibh an clann in ann páirt a ghlacadh sa searmanas.
Ag an fháiltiú cathartha i ndiaidh an nochta, thug an Dr. Éamonn Phoenix léacht ar Phádraig Ó Raincín, Tuaisceart na tíre agus Éirí Amach na Cásca sa bhliain 1916. Thug Barry Linnane maquette den dealbh don Chomhairleoir Gillian Mhic Giolla Phádraig, Cathaoirleach na Comhairle agus do Nóirín Nic Cuinneagáin, Coiméadaí Iarsmalann an Iúir, Mhúrn agus an Dúin.
Ghabh an Comhairleoir, Gillian Mhic Giolla Phádraig, Cathaoirleach na Comhairle buíochas le gach duine a chuidigh leis an tionscnamh seo a chur i gcrích, go háirithe muintir Uí Raincín a tháinig ó chion agus ó chongar inniu. Dúirt sí ‘beidh an ealaín phoiblí seo ina bhuanchuimhneachán do Phádraig Ó Raincín agus is bealach cuí chun clabhsúr a chur ar chlár rathúil Deich mBliana na gCuimhneachán Céad Bliain de chuid na Comhairle.’
