Michael Moynihan: Why Cork's tiny statue of the mosquito that bit Oliver Cromwell could be a masterstroke

The proposal by Cllr Oliver Moran just needs to avoid some of the issues besetting other public art like the Dublin Spire, the Sonia O'Sullivan statue in Cobh, and the Púca in Ennistymon 

Cork City Council is set to consider a proposal for a tiny statue honouring a mosquito linked to Oliver Cromwell.

Attention! A statue is being proposed for Cork. Specifically, a statue to commemorate the mosquito that may have killed Oliver Cromwell by infecting him with malaria while he was here.

Yes, the ‘may’ in that sentence is working overtime, but this proposal is to be considered by Cork City Council, as reported here by Liz Dunphy last week: “It would be 'the world’s smallest public statue’," and could be erected on an empty plinth outside Cork City Hall, Green Party councillor Oliver Moran said.