Cloaked rider sculpture to be unveiled in Innishannon

THIS is the artist’s sketch of the spectacular €35,000 sculpture of a cloaked rider soon to be unveiled in the West Cork village of Innishannon.

The piece, by sculptor Don Cronin, renowned for his eye-catching Bull of Macroom, will be unveiled early next month along with the launch of a history trail for the village, and an historic map of landmark buildings.

Once installed in the village, the sculpture of a cloaked man on horseback will commemorate the fact that Innishannon was the “gateway” to West Cork for many years.

Until Bandon and Innishannon bridges were built in 1594 and 1665 respectively, the ford at Innishannon was the only way for travellers of all kinds — many on horseback — to cross the river and enter west Cork.

“Before Innishannon bridge was built in 1665 or Bandon Bridge in 1594 the ford was the only way for traffic to access west Cork at low tide. You could ford the river at Innishannon by horse or on foot,” said local resident and best-selling author Alice Taylor.

“You went down the little boreen to the river and crossed the river there,” she said, explaining that the road to the crossing, which is located at the eastern end of the village near the Grotto, was once known as Bóthairín an Átha.

“The sculpture is magnificent. I visited it recently at the Cork Sculpture Factory and what a statement it makes. I feel it will help to create a huge awareness of how old and historic Innishannon actually is,” said Ms Taylor.

The life-size sculpture of the galloping horse and its rider will be erected on the last green as visitors leave the village on the Cork road, with the horse facing Bóthairín an Átha.

The piece, by sculptor Don Cronin, which was first commissioned nearly two years ago at a cost of about €35,000, will be unveiled on Saturday July 9.

“There is huge interest in the sculpture — Innishannon dates back from the 6th century and Bóthairín an Átha was still in use up to the 1950s. I remember a man telling me that he brought a cart load of logs across to the village from Dromkeen Woods using Bóthairín an Átha,” said Ms Taylor, who said that a “toll house” with a boat for hire was originally located where the old blacksmith’s forge used to be.

The sketch, by Innishannon artist Jerry Larkin, is currently being brought around the four parish schools by Ms Taylor and chairman of the local Tidy Towns branch Peter Fehily.

“We are explaining to the schoolchildren about the history of the village,” said Ms Taylor.