MY FIRST TIME TO SEE RESURGENCE THE TRIUMPH OF EDUCATION AND RENEWAL BY JAMES MCKENNA
The Triumph of Education And Renewal By James McKenna
As access was limited and the space confined and as I was using a telephoto lens this was almost impossible to photograph.
This monumental limestone sculpture is titled Resurgence (created between 1978 and 1983) by the renowned Irish sculptor, poet, and dramatist James McKenna (1933–2000). It is situated on the campus grounds of the University of Limerick (commissioned during the era of the National Institute for Higher Education, Limerick / NIHE).
Origin and Material
Artist & Commission: Sculpted by Dublin-born artist James McKenna, a pivotal figure in modern Irish stone carving and a founding member of the Independent Artists Group. The work was commissioned as a major civic statement for the fledgling campus in Plassey (then NIHE Limerick, later reconstituted as the University of Limerick).
Medium & Form: Chiseled from native Irish limestone, the monumental work is arranged as an elaborate, architectural gateway comprising heavy upright piers, lintels, and interlocking arches.
Symbolic Meaning and Themes
The Triumph of Education & Renewal: As its title indicates, Resurgence symbolises intellectual and cultural rebirth, growth, and the modern advancement of Irish third-level education.
Figurative Journey & Metamorphosis: Integrated within the architectural stonework is a dynamic group of figures emerging directly from the raw rock—standing within the portals, climbing, and perched atop the lintel. The figures represent humanity striving upwards, breaking free from raw, uncarved mass into self-realisation and enlightenment.
Archaic & Mythic Echoes: McKenna frequently drew upon Celtic mythology, megalithic architecture (such as dolmens and passage tombs), and archaic Irish motifs. The work deliberately fuses the monumental presence of ancient portal tombs with figurative expressionism, bridging Ireland’s prehistoric past with its modern educational future.
As access was limited and the space confined and as I was using a telephoto lens this was almost impossible to photograph.
This monumental limestone sculpture is titled Resurgence (created between 1978 and 1983) by the renowned Irish sculptor, poet, and dramatist James McKenna (1933–2000). It is situated on the campus grounds of the University of Limerick (commissioned during the era of the National Institute for Higher Education, Limerick / NIHE).
Origin and Material
Artist & Commission: Sculpted by Dublin-born artist James McKenna, a pivotal figure in modern Irish stone carving and a founding member of the Independent Artists Group. The work was commissioned as a major civic statement for the fledgling campus in Plassey (then NIHE Limerick, later reconstituted as the University of Limerick).
Medium & Form: Chiseled from native Irish limestone, the monumental work is arranged as an elaborate, architectural gateway comprising heavy upright piers, lintels, and interlocking arches.
Symbolic Meaning and Themes
The Triumph of Education & Renewal: As its title indicates, Resurgence symbolises intellectual and cultural rebirth, growth, and the modern advancement of Irish third-level education.
Figurative Journey & Metamorphosis: Integrated within the architectural stonework is a dynamic group of figures emerging directly from the raw rock—standing within the portals, climbing, and perched atop the lintel. The figures represent humanity striving upwards, breaking free from raw, uncarved mass into self-realisation and enlightenment.
Archaic & Mythic Echoes: McKenna frequently drew upon Celtic mythology, megalithic architecture (such as dolmens and passage tombs), and archaic Irish motifs. The work deliberately fuses the monumental presence of ancient portal tombs with figurative expressionism, bridging Ireland’s prehistoric past with its modern educational future.