PICTURES | Eye catching sculpture unveiled in Ballymahon

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A unique piece of art has been installed along the banks of the River Inny in Ballymahon.

The finished product, depicting a sculpted fisherman made from corten steel, was the fruits of local steel fabricating specialist Liam Kavanagh. READ MORE BELOW PHOTO

Ballymahon Municipal District Cllr Pat O’Toole said the sculpture was his own “special project” during his tenure as the south Longford district’s cathaoirleach over the course of the 2019-2020 period.

Cllr O’Toole, who said the project, which also involved input from Ballymahon Tidy Towns and the local development association, has already been warmly received locally.

“We had to pause things in 2020 because of Covid, but it is fantastic to see it finished and open to the public,” he said.

“We started back at it about eight months or so ago, got it finished and set a date to unveil it.

“We are also hoping it will add something extra to the local tourism industry and if it’s not from fishing, it will certainly add a certain level of curiosity.”

The long serving local politician said the new addition to Ballymahon’s all-round tourism appeal has already struck a chord with locals.

“Absolutely,” he said.

“I have been getting a good few calls about it already.”

The official unveiling took place last Friday evening in front of local politicians, council officials and members of the public.

The sculpture also carries some of the same features as the giant violin that takes pride of place along Longford’s N5 bypass with both monuments being manufactured from corten steel.

“Its location is also a great fishing area on both sides of the bridge in Ballymahon, so we are hoping it will add a new dimension to that end of the town,” he said.

Cllr O’Toole, meanwhile, paid testimony to the unsung efforts of local Tidy Towns volunteers who “pulled out all the stops” over the past three weeks to get the location for last Friday’s grand unveiling ready.