Monument to finally unite Rosscarberys three sons

An artist’s impression of the proposed monument

By Siobhán Cronin

THREE of Rosscarbery’s most famous sons will be united for the first time when a memorial plaque is unveiled in the town in June.

The three – O’Donovan Rossa, Michael Collins, and Tom Barry – will be represented on a sculpture designed by Cork County architect Giulia Vallone, and drawn by local artist Tomas Tuipear from Clonakilty.

The statue is currently being created at Pat O’Sullivan’s undertakers in Clonakilty and will be shown to the public at a special ceremony on Sunday June 28th – the day before the centenary of O’Donovan Rossa’s death.

The parish is very proud of its connections to the three men – O’Donovan Rossa and Michael Collins were both born there, and Tom Barry was raised there, having moved from Co Kerry at the age of 8.

The Rosscarbery Momuments Committee came up with the idea about three years ago and the initial plan was to have the statue in situ by the Easter Rising commemorations in 2016. However, the centenary of O’Donovan Rossa this year gave the group the opportunity to put an extra effort into the project.

It has recently been granted-aided to the tune of €7,400 with a community grant from Cork County Council.

But the overall cost of the statue will be over €20,000, so a fund-raising plan is currently in full swing.

Giulia Vallone has also helped the committee with the location of the statue – which comprises a granite base, with the three heads drawn in marble on top.

It will take the form of a standing stone and a landing stone, and will be placed in a prominent position at the Square in the centre of the town.

The stone has also being sourced locally – from the nearby Ardagh quarry.

The unveiling will take place on the same day as a Mass in the town, as part of the O’Donovan Rossa schedule of events.

More details will be posted on both rosscarbery.ie and odonovanrossacentenary.com in the coming weeks.