Theft of sculptures ‘huge loss’ for artist

AN ARTIST who has had two 9ft-tall sculptures stolen from her home believes this is the first time an Irish sculptor has experienced such a “huge loss”.

Sandra Bell, who has exhibited in London, the US, Oslo and across Ireland, says she is “devastated” at the theft of the cast bronze pieces of work and suspects they have been taken across the border to the North, to be sold on as scrap metal.

They are made from cast bronze which has soared in value on international markets in recent years.

This is believed to be the motive behind a series of thefts of public art around the country in recent times. Last year a bronze sculpture of a school of fish was stolen from a park beside the Fane river in Dundalk.

Speaking about her loss, Sandra said: “The price of cast bronze has escalated by 300% in the last three years and I believe they were stolen for their value as scrap metal, which would be about €5,000.”

She and her family were sleeping and unaware the sculptures had been stolen until they woke on Tuesday morning. The gates into the property had been broken and the pieces were missing from their enclosed garden.

Sandra said it would have needed a number of men, a trailer and possibly some equipment to remove Eternity and Granuaile from her home in Killin near Dundalk.

“Together they weigh one-and-a-half tonnes. They took a year to make and I’m devastated. I believe that this is the first time an Irish sculptor has had such a huge loss.

“The sad thing is that having spent so much time and money making these sculptures they will no doubt be broken up and sold for scrap,” she said.

Sandra has offered an award for the return of the sculptures and said if they are returned in their original condition the award will be greater than if they are not.

Gardaí believe they were removed in a trailer that was stolen locally.

Anyone with information on either theft is asked to contact gardaí in Hackballscross on 042 9377142.