Display of 10,000 figurines to pay tribute to Shane Geoghegan

THOUSANDS of miniature terracotta clay figures — including one shaped by Taoiseach Enda Kenny — will be placed in Limerick’s City Hall in a tribute to murdered Shane Geoghegan and all innocent victims of violence.

November 9 is being designated a day of peace in the city with an expected 10,000 figurines — including some donated from China and the US — being put on display in Limerick.

Shane’s mother Mary and family members, including his aunt Mary Walsh, who came up with the idea, have appealed to the public to make the event a success.

The project, Pitch for Shane, will be put in place in Limerick’s City Hall on the third anniversary of his murder.

The concept is based on the Chinese terracotta warriors and the Pitch for Shane miniatures will be put in place as a tribute to all innocent victims.

Already, thousands of clay figurines have been shaped for the pitch.

Ms Walsh said: “We need the help of the public to make this success. We can supply the clay and all people need to do is to be creative. The installation of the Pitch for Shane will be completed on November 9, the third anniversary of Shane’s tragic and untimely death.

“We have a target of 10,000 figures to go on exhibition in Instabaque Hall in City Hall. Already we have had figures sent from China and the US.”

Mary Geoghegan, mother of the Garryowen rugby captain, said: “We, Shane’s family are delighted with this unique memorial. The Pitch for Shane, developed in his name, is a way for everyone to be involved and show their solidarity.

“We appreciate enormously the imagination, creativity and energy Margaret, his aunt, has brought to this project. Shane, I know, would love this. Although he had an engineering brain he was a team player and, like his aunt, had art in his heart.

“We encourage everyone to make a clay figure for Shane’s Pitch, not only to show they reject violence but also to remember Shane positively and fittingly.”

The Pitch for Shane exhibition of terracotta figurines will go on display up to Christmas.

Clay for use in the making of the exhibition pieces has been donated by the Cork firm DBI.

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