Rector calls for return of ‘unique’ statue stolen near Yeats’s grave
AN ARCHDEACON has appealed for the safe return of a bronze sculpture stolen from the car park close to WB Yeats’s grave.
Capt Isaac Hannah, rector of St Columba’s Church in Drumcliffe, Co Sligo, and Archdeacon of Elphin and Ardagh, is urging people with information on the whereabouts of the statue to contact gardaí.
“We were greatly saddened and angered that someone had taken this unique object, which for many is one of the focal points of their visit to our churchyard and church,” he said. “It was ironic that we first learned of the news following our annual community carol service, of which the theme was ‘joy to the world’.
“We would appeal to anyone in the community that would have any information regarding the theft to pass it on to local gardaí in Grange.”
Yeats’s grave is a popular destination for tourists on the Wild Atlantic Way.
The sculpture – created by sculptor Jackie McKenna and reported missing on Sunday – forms part of a larger piece displaying the poem ‘He wishes for the cloths of heaven’ by the renowned Irish poet. Yeats famously left the instructions that the grave consist of “no marble, no conventional phrase”.
Gardaí are appealing to anyone with information regarding the piece to contact Grange gardaí or Sligo gardaí on 071 915 7000 or the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111.