By Ursula Duddy
A renowned Derry sculptor has proposed erecting ‘dramatic and unique’ sculptures, and a stone circle, on top of Scalp Mountain to honour the ancient history of the area.
Maurice Harron’s work is well known throughout Ireland with perhaps his most iconic work, Hands Across the Divide (pictured), located here in his hometown at the gateway to Derry at the end of the Craigavon Bridge. Other landmark works include the Tinnies statues outside Strabane and his more recent 'Celebrate' sculpture of children dancing in a circle, located in Creggan.
After studying at Ulster College of Art & Design, Harron taught St. Columb’s College and Lumen Christi College in Derry as well as at St. Joseph’s College of Education and Convent of Mercy, Belfast. In 1983 he began working at painting and sculpture and had exhibitions in City Hall, Sligo in 1987, and Heritage Library, Derry in 1989.
For almost two decades now, Harron has ‘worked to address issues of belief, ethnicity and political tension through his sculpture’ and has public works that explore themes of social, historical and cultural identity.
Harron said that he has had a ‘lifelong interest in local ancient history’ and has a vision for Scalp Mountain, which overlooks much of the north west of Ireland.
The works would be named ‘Gathering on Scalp’ or ‘Meitheal ar Scailp' and ‘The Stone Circle of the Families and Clans of Inishowen’.
He said that, although they have not yet received approval from the Inishowen Municipal District of Donegal County Council for the sculptures, he has a clear vision of what the works could bring to the area.
Ambitious
Speaking to the Derry News, Harron outlined his ambitious plans for the Donegal beauty spot.
“Scalp Mountain overlooks Inishowen and Lough Swilly and Lough Foyle,” he said.
“From the top one can see Derry and Strabane, the green lands of ancient Aileach, and its Grianan of Aileach at Burt, Fanad Peninsula, Letterkenny and Rathmullan, Buncrana and Clonmany.
“Things are difficult to see in the mist. Outlines are blurred, details are unclear. The mist or clouds or fog can come down quickly and obscure everything. But the mists can lift and clear and the sun can come out and everything can become sharp and bright again.
“Throughout Inishowen and Donegal, there are numerous standing stones, archaeological sites, historic features, architectural ruins, and these are recorded and noted in the ancient manuscripts.
“Within living memory, people gathered on top of these hills and mountains, to celebrate mid-summer, to socialise, with outdoor picnics, enjoy music and dance. Places like An Grianan of Aileach, and Sliabh Sneacht were such destinations over the centuries.”
Modern
Harron illustrated how he intends to brings the past and present together. In a project that both encapsulates the local natural beauty and has a modern twist with an interactive element through mobile phone applications bringing the history of the sculptures to life.
“The intention is to create a modern destination, a location that is dramatic and unique, at the top of Scalp, over-looking Counties Donegal, Derry, Tyrone and Antrim; the vista presents a spectacular view that is the equal to the best in Ireland,” he said.
“I propose to create an art work to honour the ancient past of the Tuatha De Danann and the Tribes and Clans and Families that came after them, down through the many centuries.
“The location will, at times, be invisible, as it is often shrouded in cloud and fog and mist and is sometimes inaccessible, due to snow and ice in winter.”
He continued: “It would be set within a stone circle, 80 metres diameter, 21 sculptures of men, women, children, horses and dog, fabricated in stainless steel and bronze plate and made at a monumental scale.
“Fourteen of them, are standing figures, each about 4.5 metres high and seven of them are warriors on horseback, each about 6 metres high.
“This proposed location is not easily accessible, though there is a private road up to it. Being at the centre of Inishowen, there are spectacular views of the surrounding lakes, rivers, mountains, farm lands and towns.”
Tourism
The artist said the new site would be a tourist attraction, drawing visitors from Derry and all over the North West and further afield.
“Such a location and large scale cultural statement would demand some provision for access and interpretation,” said Harron.
“There would be a need to organise some ‘tourist starting-points’, a hotel or restaurant or interpretive centre, that would provide a courier bus transport, that would go at set times, during the day.”
Clan stones
Harron expanded on the plans behind the 30 stones celebrating the region’s rich ancient history: “A series of 30 ‘standing stones’ each dedicated to a clan, or family of Inishowen or Donegal, would be erected.
“Each of these would be the ‘home’ of designs, texts and stories associated with that family. I would invite local artists, arts groups, to work on individual stones, taking inspiration from history as recorded in ‘Annals of the Four Masters’, from local family stories, folk-lore or mythological stories, from recent and ancient past.
“We will be advised by History experts from University of Ulster Magee campus on the selection of texts, genealogy, names for the creation of mobile phone Apps.”
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