Garda probe after €64k roadside sculpture stolen

BRAZEN thieves are suspected of stealing another sculpture from the side of a road in the midlands this week.

Gardaí in Clara, Co Offaly, are investigating the disappearance of a €64,000, seven-metre high sculpture known as The Bronze Lady.

Commissioned in 2007, the statue depicting Grainne Óg by sculptress Ann Meldon Hugh was located along the M6 slip road approaching Moate in Co Westmeath.

A number of people, gardaí believe, used machinery to remove the bronze and stainless steel piece.

Gardaí became aware of the theft this week but believe the sculpture may have been missing for up to a fortnight.

The theft comes weeks after the theft of a bronze sculpture called The Hitch Hiker near Monasterevin on the main Dublin to Cork motorway and a bronze piece of the mythical goddess Danu was stolen near Rathmore, Co Kerry.

Westmeath Co Council Arts Officer, Catherine Kelly expressed her “disappointment” at the loss of such a high quality artwork. Although the sculpture was insured, she said the council are now “fearful” other pieces may be targeted.

Moate-based Cllr Tom Allen said it was “amazing and still a mystery how someone could lift something so big” unnoticed.

“Something of that value would needed to be placed, maybe at a roundabout, where there is a lot of activity,” he remarked. “It’s an awful lot of money to put on the side of the road where it doesn’t really enhance the area.”

Cllr Allen believes the statue may have already been melted down for its scrap metal value.

Investigating Gardaí in Clara are appealing to anyone with information in relation to the theft to contact the Garda Station in Clara on [phone].