Gallán na mBád - Dungarvan

Gallán na mBád/Fishing Boat Stele by Niall O'Neill

Location: Davitts Quay, Dungarvan (opposite Dungarvan Castle)
Scheme : Dungarvan & Environs Sewerage Scheme

The piece is directly inspired by Dungarvan’s maritime and fishing traditions. It takes the form of the prow of a fishing boat in cast bronze and is 16 ft high at it’s highest point. Each side of the sculpture has a semi-abstract motif representing a shoal of fish. The sculpture is a signifier or marker to celebrate both the historical importance of fishing in the town and its current attraction as a boating and sailing port. It also acts as a sun dial in that it casts shadows in the same way as some prehistoric standing stones.
The artist Niall O’ Neill is based in Co.Wicklow and has extensive experience as an exhibiting artist and with public art commissions in Ireland. He lectured in sculpture in DLIAT, Dun Laoghaire from 1975 – 2002. He was chair of Visual Artist Ireland from 1997 to 2002 and is currently a long term board member.