Spectacular sun sculpture to be displayed at Cork cathedral for Midsummer Festival 

Luke Jerram previously thrilled Cork audiences with his representation of the Earth at St Colman's Cathedral in Cobh 

The Helios representation of the Sun by British artist Luke Jerram which will feature at Cork Midsummer Festival. Picture: Bec Hughes

Luke Jerram’s sculpture of the Earth was a major hit at Cork Midsummer Festival in 2022, and the British artist looks set to again draw crowds to his latest work at this year’s event.

Helios is a spectacular six-metre representation of the Sun that will hang at St Fin Barre's Cathedral during the festival in June. Created to scale, each centimetre of the artwork represents 2,300km of the real Sun’s surface, and features such details as sunspots and solar flares. Adding to the atmosphere will be a soundtrack of live NASA recordings of the sun.

Organisers say that, as well as providing an opportunity to enjoy an “awe-inspiring and immersive experience of the Sun’s intense beauty and power”, Helios also shows the Sun’s vital role in shaping Earth’s climate and sustaining life.

The artwork will be available to see each day from June 9-21, and on the summer solstice (June 21), Helios will open from dawn until dusk. Bookings begin at 10am on Monday, April 7, via the Cork Midsummer Festival website. Tickets cost €8 (€7 concession), and children accompanied by an adult are free.

British artist Luke Jerram with his Helios representation of the Sun which will feature at Cork Midsummer Festival. Picture: Bec Hughes

The Sun project will be Bristol artist Jerram’s fourth contribution to the Cork event, with previous work including Museum of the Moon at CIT in 2016, and the Gaia representation of the Earth at St Colman’s Cathedral, Cobh.

Lorraine Maye, director of Cork Midsummer Festival, urged people to book early to see Jerram’s latest work. “‘We’re thrilled to be hosting another major Irish premiere of Luke’s extraordinary artworks, this time at the stunning St Fin Barre’s Cathedral. Thousands of people of all ages have queued in all weathers to encounter his giant creations at previous festivals,” added Maye.

 

The Dean of Cork the Very Rev Nigel Dunne, said the installation was in keeping with some of the Book of Genesis themes represented in a section of the cathedral’s stained glass windows. “Helios reflects the message of our great Creation window and we are delighted to be collaborating with Cork Midsummer Festival to showcase this major attraction in St Fin Barre’s Cathedral," said Rev Dunne.

• Cork Midsummer Festival runs June 13-22. For information and tickets, see corkmidsummer.com