Atlantic Oak comes to rest in Mallow
SCULPTOR TELLS HOW A PIECE OF ‘DRIFTWOOD’ HAS FINISHED UP IN TIP O’NEILL PARK
A bronze cast of a slab which was found in an old boat builder’s yard on a small island off the coast of Mayo is now at a new home at Tipp O’Neill Park in Mallow.
While ‘Atlantic Oak’ is in situ for some time now, its sculptor, Eilis O’Connell, said it was common practice for Island boat builders to season oak in sea water for a couple of years before shaping it with steam.
The Office of Public Works (OPW) and CCC commissioned the sculpture for Mallow flood defence work.
She said the action of the sea washed out the cellulose in the soft part of the wood and exposed the harder parts.
“By mistake, this particular piece of oak was left in the ocean for 33 years and became useless for boat building. The patterns of erosion on the sculpture were caused by sea water washing across a slab of oak for thirty three years. We can see the gentle force of water at work on the surface of the sculpture,” she said.
She explained that a large part of her sculptural practice is collecting materials and exploring new ways of making things.
“Despite the years of collecting materials, this is the first time that I have used a found form for a large scale project. The slab of oak took two years to dry out in my studio and over this time I decided that I wanted to make it permanent by moulding it and casting it in bronze. It is patinated to look like petrified wood,” she said.
The work ‘Atlantic Oak’ will serve in the years to come as a reminder of the defences built to protect the town from flooding. These defence works, carried out over the period 2010 to 2013, have proved to be successful and have provided much relief for those living in the area who have suffered many devastating floods over the years.
The town of Mallow, County Cork, has a long history of flooding from the River Blackwater, and other smaller watercourses which flows through the town.
The Scheme was brought to Public Exhibition in 2005. Advance works were undertaken by Cork County Council with OPW funding in 20052006. Afterwards, OPW proceeded with Phase 1 of the project with construction works on Mallow North being completed between 2008 and 2010.
In September 2010, works commenced on the remaining phase on the southern side comprising Mallow South and Mallow West Schemes. Construction is now completed and the Scheme is operational.
The effectiveness of the Scheme depends on the erection of the demountable defences by Cork County Council/Mallow Town Council staff upon receipt of a flood warning from the Early Flood Warning System developed by the OPW.
Costs involved in the establishment of the Mallow flood system were funded by OPW.