THE CHILDREN OF LIR
THE CHILDREN OF LIR SCULPTURE [I USED A SONY A7RV CAMERA]
The Garden of Remembrance in Dublin, a serene and poignant space, is home to a magnificent sculpture that captures the essence of a beloved Irish legend: The Children of Lir. This bronze masterpiece serves as the focal point of the garden, which itself commemorates all those who gave their lives for Irish freedom.
The Art: "The Children of Lir"
The sculpture by Oisín Kelly depicts the four children of Lir – Fionnuala, Aodh, Fiachra, and Conn – in their transformed state as swans, rising from the water. The work is crafted from copper bronze and stands at an imposing height, conveying a sense of aspiration and transcendence. The composition is dynamic, with the swans' forms suggesting both grace and a powerful surge upwards, symbolising rebirth and resurrection.
The legend of the Children of Lir is a tale from Irish mythology, often grouped as one of the "Three Sorrows of Storytelling". It recounts how the four children of King Lir were cruelly transformed into swans by their jealous stepmother, Aoife, cursed to spend 900 years in this form, enduring hardship across various waters in Ireland. The curse is eventually broken by the ringing of a Christian bell, returning them to human form as frail, aged individuals who are then baptised before their peaceful deaths.
In the context of the Garden of Remembrance, the sculpture takes on deeper symbolic meaning. It represents not only the suffering and endurance of the Irish people through periods of oppression but also their ultimate transformation, resilience, and the enduring hope for freedom and renewal. The swans in flight can be seen as an allegory for the nation's struggle and eventual liberation, a vision that ultimately became a reality.
Behind the sculpture, a poem by Liam Mac Uistin is inscribed, further reinforcing the themes of vision, hope, valour, and resurrection, drawing parallels between the mythical tale and Ireland's historical journey to independence.
The Artist: Oisín Kelly (1915-1981)
The creator of this iconic sculpture was Oisín Kelly, born Austin Kelly in Dublin in 1915. Kelly was a prominent Irish sculptor, highly regarded for his accessible style and mastery of various techniques and materials. He initially pursued a career as a schoolteacher, studying languages at Trinity College Dublin and later attending night classes at the National College of Art and Design. He also had the invaluable experience of studying under the renowned British sculptor Henry Moore from 1948 to 1949.
Before "The Children of Lir," Kelly primarily focused on small wood carvings and received commissions for Catholic churches. However, the commission for the Garden of Remembrance, unveiled on Easter Monday 1966 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Easter Rising, brought him significant public recognition. While some initially criticised the use of a pagan legend for a national monument in a Christian country, the sculpture has undeniably become one of his most celebrated and enduring works.
Following "The Children of Lir," Kelly received numerous other public commissions, including the statue of trade union leader James Larkin on Dublin's O'Connell Street and "Oisín Goes to Tir Na Nóg" at the Irish Life Mall Plaza. In 1966, he became artist-in-residence at the Kilkenny Design Centre, a role he held until his death in 1981. Oisín Kelly's work played a crucial role in upholding sculptural standards in Ireland during a period when the art form was experiencing a lull, leaving a lasting legacy on the country's public art landscape.
The Garden of Remembrance in Dublin, a serene and poignant space, is home to a magnificent sculpture that captures the essence of a beloved Irish legend: The Children of Lir. This bronze masterpiece serves as the focal point of the garden, which itself commemorates all those who gave their lives for Irish freedom.
The Art: "The Children of Lir"
The sculpture by Oisín Kelly depicts the four children of Lir – Fionnuala, Aodh, Fiachra, and Conn – in their transformed state as swans, rising from the water. The work is crafted from copper bronze and stands at an imposing height, conveying a sense of aspiration and transcendence. The composition is dynamic, with the swans' forms suggesting both grace and a powerful surge upwards, symbolising rebirth and resurrection.
The legend of the Children of Lir is a tale from Irish mythology, often grouped as one of the "Three Sorrows of Storytelling". It recounts how the four children of King Lir were cruelly transformed into swans by their jealous stepmother, Aoife, cursed to spend 900 years in this form, enduring hardship across various waters in Ireland. The curse is eventually broken by the ringing of a Christian bell, returning them to human form as frail, aged individuals who are then baptised before their peaceful deaths.
In the context of the Garden of Remembrance, the sculpture takes on deeper symbolic meaning. It represents not only the suffering and endurance of the Irish people through periods of oppression but also their ultimate transformation, resilience, and the enduring hope for freedom and renewal. The swans in flight can be seen as an allegory for the nation's struggle and eventual liberation, a vision that ultimately became a reality.
Behind the sculpture, a poem by Liam Mac Uistin is inscribed, further reinforcing the themes of vision, hope, valour, and resurrection, drawing parallels between the mythical tale and Ireland's historical journey to independence.
The Artist: Oisín Kelly (1915-1981)
The creator of this iconic sculpture was Oisín Kelly, born Austin Kelly in Dublin in 1915. Kelly was a prominent Irish sculptor, highly regarded for his accessible style and mastery of various techniques and materials. He initially pursued a career as a schoolteacher, studying languages at Trinity College Dublin and later attending night classes at the National College of Art and Design. He also had the invaluable experience of studying under the renowned British sculptor Henry Moore from 1948 to 1949.
Before "The Children of Lir," Kelly primarily focused on small wood carvings and received commissions for Catholic churches. However, the commission for the Garden of Remembrance, unveiled on Easter Monday 1966 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Easter Rising, brought him significant public recognition. While some initially criticised the use of a pagan legend for a national monument in a Christian country, the sculpture has undeniably become one of his most celebrated and enduring works.
Following "The Children of Lir," Kelly received numerous other public commissions, including the statue of trade union leader James Larkin on Dublin's O'Connell Street and "Oisín Goes to Tir Na Nóg" at the Irish Life Mall Plaza. In 1966, he became artist-in-residence at the Kilkenny Design Centre, a role he held until his death in 1981. Oisín Kelly's work played a crucial role in upholding sculptural standards in Ireland during a period when the art form was experiencing a lull, leaving a lasting legacy on the country's public art landscape.