Sand sculpture thanks health-care heroes

An artist locked down by the coronavirus created a wave of goodwill in Ireland with an outsized sand sculpture praising the country’s health-care heroes. Sean Corcoran carved out a “giant Etch A Sketch” thanking medical workers on a deserted beach near his home in Kilmurrin, County Waterford, the Irish Independent reported. The 45-metre-wide “Thank You” was a tribute to all the doctors, nurses and hospital staff “showing amazing bravery at this difficult time,” Corcoran told the paper. The artist, who runs an art school and had spent two weeks in quarantine after returning from a trip to the U.S., said the sculpture was painstakingly crafted at low tide before being washed away a few hours later. It featured a Superman-style ‘S’ symbol replaced by a medical cross, and echoed the comments of Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar who said last month: “Not all superheroes wear capes … some wear scrubs and gowns.” Corcoran, who is limited to a two-kilometre radius of his home for brief exercise under Ireland’s lockdown rules, said the beach at Kilmurrin has inspired his sand art since childhood — and was a natural choice for his unique message of gratitude, despite its temporary nature.