Surely there can be few works of modern public sculpture in Ireland as meaningless, and visually intrusive, as that which occupies the area between the Seamus Rafter statue and the new bridge at Enniscorthy? The piece entitled "The Singing Bird" was erected in 1993 at considerable cost. The 'sculptor' was the late Conor Fallon (1939-2007). It is not just that this pile of twisted stainless steel pipework, which incorporates a rarely working fountain, is offensive in its own right but it also obscures the fine statue to local patriot Seamus Rafter which was erected in 1958.
Seamus Rafter was the IRA commandant for Wexford during the 1916 Rising, and regardless of your polititics the statue is of historical significance. The Seamus Rafter statue has form and is understandable to the intellectually challenged person in the street - such as your truly - whereas the "Singing Bird" only looks its best when local kids have added washing powder to the fountain and then it resembles a demented washing machine!
This piece from the Wexford People on the occasion of the artists death says it all.
Wednesday October 10 2007
Distinguished sculptor Conor Fallon has died at the age of 68. The former secretary of the Royal Hibernian Academy was brought up in Wexford and he made a lasting mark on the county. His Singing Bird' is a landmark in Enniscorthy.
However, the artist was never happy with the way the steel structure was assembled and presented beside the new bridge in Enniscorthy. Indeed, he told this paper last year that he found the end result embarrassing, adding that he would prefer to have it pulled down.
No matter how much this thing cost surely it is about time it was removed - the Town Council first discussed the issue more than two years ago but it still remains. If they are looking for volunteers to help pull it down you can count me in!
Oh right, it's supposed to be a bird. Could never work out what the hell it is.
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