Local firm donates ‘see-through' image of Lusitania to museum

A KINSALE firm has once more donated an impressive piece of its workmanship to the local area.

Following on from its manufacture of a life-size image of the Giant of Kinsale, Patrick Cotter O’Brien, which was donated to Kinsale Museum last year, Graepels Perforators in Kinsale have created a piece for the Signal Tower museum at the Old Head.

Graepels recently manufactured a ‘Picture-Perf’ piece of the RMS Lusitania. The piece was donated by Graepels and is now installed along the coastline at the Signal Tower at the Old Head of Kinsale, at the new garden which was opened by Minister Simon Coveney earlier this year.

The RMS Lusitania undertook its maiden voyage in 1907, sailing from Liverpool to New York. Tragically, during World War I, the magnificent ocean liner was torpedoed, and sank 18km from the Old Head of Kinsale. Graepel’s piece has been designed in tribute to the 1,201 victims of the RMS Lusitania.

‘For this project, the 3mm aluminium sheet was perforated an incredible 34,513 times,’ explained a spokesperson. ‘The varying perforation dimensions added intricate shading and alternating densities to the project. The finished piece measures 3m x 1.4m, and is raised 700mm from the ground, allowing the sea to form a stunning backdrop.’

Graepels liaised with the local committee and JJ Hayes, chairman of the Lusitania museum, in the creation of this striking piece.

Graepels ‘Picture-Perf’ is a unique approach to contemporary metal design as the process enables the depiction of photo-realistic imagery. The process involves translating an image or graphic onto metal through punching different sized perforations through a metal sheet.

The firm’s replica of the Giant of Kinsale stands 8’1” tall – as tall as Patrick Cotter-O’Brien himself, who was the first of only 13 people in medical history to stand at that verified height. 

The Picture-Perf image of Patrick is perforated in 2mm stainless steel and then powder coated in anodic brown architectural powder.

Graepels, specialists in bespoke metal products, are based at Barrack Green in Kinsale, and have been in business since 1959. For more see www.graepels.com