headerphoto

History - Memorials & Monuments

In Honour & Memory

Christ the King Statue

Logo: Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council
Robert O'Donovan Plaque
Previous		 Christ The King Commemoration, Haigh Terrace King George IV Painting
Next

CHRIST THE KING

In 1978 the statue dedicated to Christ the King at the end of Haigh Terrace in Dun Laoghaire was unveiled. Made of bronze it was designed by American born sculptor Andrew O'Connor. Based in Paris for many years O'Connor was strongly influenced by Auguste Rodin whom he knew. O'Connor's work is well represented in Dublin's Hugh Lane Gallery of Modern Art and his pieces are on display in many parts of the world. Some of his most notable works include a statue of Abraham Lincoln in Springfield, Illinois, Tristan and Iseult in the Brooklyn Museum, New York, the Lafayette Monument, Baltimore and Peace by Justice in the Hague. He was given the French Government's Legion d'Honneur for his Monument aux Marts de la Grande Guerre. lihis sculpture later became known in Ireland as the Triple Cross and more recently the Christ the King memorial, Dun Laoghaire.

Christ the King Statue

"The original decision to erect a monument to Christ the King came at a public meeting on June 9, 1931 in the Town Hall, Dun Laoghaire. An appeal booklet appeared the following year announcing Andrew O'Connor as the committee's choice of sculptor. The piece was eventually cast in bronze but World War II intervened and it was hidden in France to avoid its three tonnes being melted down for war use. It was eventually delivered to Dun Laoghaire in 1949. However, due to local clerical opposition to the stark design the statue was not erected and for many years was stored in a back garden on Rochestown Avenue. Eventually Christ the King was unveiled on December 16, 1978 forty-seven years after the public meeting in the town hail."

The sculpture is 18 feet high and symbolises three distinct aspects of Christ's life; Desolation, Consolation and Triumph.

All images and descriptive text used with permission Dun Laoghaire - Rathdown County Council

Dun Laoghaire - Rathdown County Council Logo

Now published and available to purchase for €10 in all good book shops, or order via email tcarey@dlrcoco.ie, and to order via telephone ring +353 1 205 4868. Please visit the Dun Laoghaire - Rathdown County Council web site http://www.dlrcoco.ie

 

Homepage || Content || History || In honour and memory || Christ the king commemoration

  Printer Friendly VersionPrint with image(s)    Printer Friendly VersionPrint without image(s)