A sculpture of Newry man Patrick Rankin was unveiled at Dublin Bridge, Newry, on Thursday 22 December 2016 as part of Newry, Mourne and Down District Council’s Decade of Centenaries Programme.
The artwork is the creation of Barry Lindane, a sculptor, whose public pieces can be seen the length and breadth of Ireland.
Barry Linnane presents a maquette of the artwork to Councillor Gillian Fitzpatrick, Chairperson of Newry Mourne and Down District Council and Noreen Cunningham, Curator, Newry and Mourne Museum.
Newry Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson Councillor Gillian Fitzpatrick said: “This artwork is in recognition of Patrick Rankin, the only Newry person who quite literally got on his bike and cycled 70 miles to Dublin to take part in the 1916 Easter Rising.
“While we may all share the same history on the island of Ireland, we have different experiences and interpretations of it. I believe the unveiling today will play its part in helping us all explore and re-examine our history”.
Councillor Fitzpatrick added: “I would like to thank everyone who has helped this project come to fruition, and in particular, all the Rankin family members who have taken the time to attend this unveiling. This lasting tribute to Patrick Rankin has been an appropriate way to bring to a close the Council’s very successful 2016 Decade of Centenaries Programme”
At the reception, Dr Éamon Phoenix delivered an historical talk on ‘Patrick Rankin, the North and the 1916 Easter Rising’, and Barry Linnane presented a maquette of the artwork to Newry Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson, Councillor Gillian Fitzpatrick, and Newry & Mourne Museum Curator, Noreen Cunningham.
The Public Artwork in recognition of Patrick Rankin, the only Newry person who quite literally got on his bike and cycled 70 miles to Dublin to take part in the 1916 Easter Rising.
