Harris statue lauds Limerick’s own king

LIMERICK yesterday honoured its most celebrated son, Richard Harris.

A life-size statue of him in the role of Camelot’s King Arthur was unveiled in the city centre. It cost €150,000 and was funded by Limerick City Council.

Speaking on behalf of the Harris family, the actor’s brother Noel said: “I know Richard would be very moved and greatly honoured if he were here today. He said to me many times during his life that he hoped that his native city would one day acknowledge his contribution to the performing arts.

“Now it is great to see his native city has done that very thing today. Richard can now rest in peace.”

Mayor of Limerick Ger Fahy said that the honour by his native city to Harris had been a long time coming. He said: “He took great pride in being a Limerick man.”

Among the family members present were the actor’s first wife Elizabeth and their three sons, Jamie, Jared and Damien, along with another of the actor’s brothers, Ivan.

Retired businessman Stuart Clein was among the hundreds who gathered in the autumn sunshine for the ceremony at Bedford Row.

Mr Clein, 76, said: “I knew all the Harrises. The last time I met Dickie was in the Savoy Hotel in London when I attended the wedding of Donogh O’Malley’s (former FF Education Minister) son Darragh.

“It is lovely that the city has now honoured Dickie. As we say inLimerick ‘he’s one of our own’ and always kept up contact.”

Labour front-bench TD Jan O’Sullivan said Limerick-born sculptor Jim Connolly had created a magnificent likeness of Harris. She said: “It will be a new focal point in the city centre. When rugby fans come for big games they can use the Richard Harris statue as an apt meeting place, given Richard played rugby for Garryowen and Munster and his first breakthrough on screen was as a rugby player in This Sporting Life.”

Richard Harris was born into a Limerick milling family in 1930 and died after a long illness in London in 2002.

He was nominated for anOscar for his role as Bull McCabe in the film adaptation of John B Keane’s play The Field.