Vandals destroy statue of Virgin

April 1984

VANDALS have demolished a monument dedicated to the Virgin Mary on a roadside just outside the North Wicklow village of Kilmacanogue.

And now the Dublin man who put up the statue over 10 years ago is searching for a replacement to put in the grotto beside the Kilmacanogue-Roundwood road. Charlie Duffy of Windmill Road, Crumlin, erected the statue after returning from a trip to Lourdes with his wife Kathleen.

Over the years the statue, weighing almost one tonne, became a familiar and landmark to local people. Now however, it has been smashed to pieces by vandals and both the Duffys and local people are very upset over the incident.

Said local man Tom Mulligan, ‘It was a really terrible thing to do. Everyone in the area was shocked and horrified by this act.’