Sculpture to mark famous visits

THE visits of a pope and a US president to Limerick and the victory of a great Irish athlete are to be commemorated by a piece of sculpture.

It will be sited at the old Greenpark racecourse where thousands gathered on three historic occasions — the visits of President John F Kennedy in 1963 and Pope John Paul II in 1979 along with John Treacy’s victory in the world cross championships, also in 1979.

The sculpture will be funded by Bord na gCon (Irish Greyhound Board) as part of the planning permission granted by Limerick City Council to build a super greyhound stadium at Greenpark.

Councillor Maria Byrne, who has been to the fore in the commemoration project, said Limerick was the only location visited by the Pope in 1979 which had not erected a structure to mark the occasion.

“I would like to see a commemorative structure completed by next year, the 30th anniversary of the pope’s visit. Bord na gCon will pay for and commission the work as part of the planning permission for their new stadium. I would like to see the city council set up a committee with members from the area to liaise with Bord na gCon about appropriate design. We want some structure to celebrate three very historic days at Greenpark.

“I would think many sculptors would like the challenge to get involved in this project “I would not think we would be talking about something modern and abstract, but a sculpture which would celebrate these great figures and three great historic days in Limerick.”

Cllr Byrne’s father Bobby, former mayor of Limerick, welcomed Pope John Paul II to the city and bestowed the freedom of the city on the pontiff.