Mallow’s moving statue set to get a new home
MALLOW locals will no doubt be pleased to hear that one of the town’s most recognisable landmarks is not about to be put out to pasture.
While Michael Quane’s iconic ‘Horse and Riders’ sculpture, which has stood at the heart of the Annabella Roundabout for more than two decades, may have ridden off into the night, Cork County Council has committed to finding it a new home in Mallow.
The sculpture was recently removed overnight as part of a major realignment project at the roundabout that will see the creation of an extra traffic lane leading into it.
While the statue is being safely stored on council property and is set to undergo restoration works by Mr Quane, senior council official Jim Moloney confirmed it will be given a new home once the work is completed.
“It will be staying in Mallow. We are currently in discussions about where it will go, but it will be at an accessible location, possibly on one of the verges to the side of the roundabout,” said Mr Moloney.
The newly realigned roundabout will be undergoing a major facelift under the direction of Fermoy-based landscape artists Cathal O’Meara.
He said that steel lettering spelling out the word Mallow will form the centrepiece of the roundabout.
“Each of the 3-D style letters will be approximately a metre in height and will be coloured bright rebel red. The rest of the roundabout and the surrounding verges will all be landscaped with colourful flowers and shrubbery that will compliment the centrepiece,” said Mr O’Meara.
“The intention is to give Mallow a readily recognisable and strong identity leaving an impression on passing motorists and act as a distinctive branding tool for Mallow,” he added.
Meanwhile, the project manager for the realignment works, Ger Patton, said it was anticipated that the project would be completed by the second week in July.