Athlone's Shannon 'mask' sculpture is still on the cards

The controversial 'Mask of the Shannon' sculpture, planned for Custume Place in Athlone, is still in the works and is set to be installed in the coming months, according to a council official.

The €60,000 bronze art piece, due to rise to almost 11 feet in height, prompted opposition from scores of locals last year.

Objectors argued it was based on inappropriate British symbolism and should be scrapped in favour of a piece focusing on the Irish mythological figure of Síonnan.

Mayo-based sculptor Rory Breslin was commissioned by Westmeath County Council to work on the piece last year after he won a competition to select a new piece of public art for the redeveloped Church Street.

The project was discussed at a council meeting in September 2019, at which stage the local authority said it was "planned for installation by the end of 2019 or early 2020."

However, this did not happen, and the fact that there had been no public update on the sculpture since then caused some to wonder if it was going ahead at all.

At this week's meeting of the Athlone Moate Municipal District the matter was not discussed, but the Westmeath Independent asked District Manager Jackie Finney about it after the meeting.

Ms Finney said Covid-19 had caused a further delay, but that the council was now pressing ahead with design work for the installation of the sculpture, which is due to be located beside the Genoa Cafe and the old Dillon's shoes premises.

She said no date had yet been decided for when the sculpture would be installed, but she was hopeful it would be in place before the end of this year.