Outdoor statues in Dublin (1892)

Statues, - in the Open Air.

[I’ve updated this section to detail whether the described statues are still there. If they are gone there is definitely a note. Some have moved. As a project I’ll be trying to photograph all the historical statues during 2001, and maybe even some of the others. KF. Jan 2001]

[See, in the Daily Express, of 13 August, 1878, a full and interesting article, signed ‘K. L.,’ by the late Mrs. Alexander Leeper, - on the Open Air Statues of Dublin.]

**

1. Albert.

**The bronze statue of Prince Albert (1819-61), Consort of Queen Victoria, in Leinster Lawn, - by John henry Foley, R.A. (1818-74), - was erected in 1872. An unsuccessful attempt to blow it up was made in the same year.

Dublin has no statue of Queen Victoria. [One was later erected at the front of Leinster House - it was sold off to Australia. Prince Albert can still be seen, in the grounds of Leinster House, on the right hand side of the Natural History Museum. KF.]

(Cf. Albert-pl.)**

2. Ardilaun.

**A bronze statue of Arthur Edward Guinness, Lord Ardilaun (b. 1840), - by Thomas Farrell, R.H.A., is to be erected in S. Stephen’s-green, opposite York-str., [erected in 1892 ]in recognition of his munificence in effecting the opening of S. Stephen’s-green (6 Aug., 1880) as a public park, - laid out and beautified by him at great expense. [He’s still there. KF.]

(Cf. Ardilaun-ter.)**

3. Burke.**

The bronze statue of Edmund Burke (1729-97), in front of Trinity College, - by John Henry Foley,-was unveiled by the Prince of Wales, 21 April, 1868.

Burke had been a Scholar of the College.

[It’s still there, as is Goldsmith below. KF]

4. Carlisle.

The bronze statue of Geo. Wm. Frederick Howard, 7th. Earl of Carlisle (1802-64), in the People’s-garden, Phoenix-park, - by John Henry Foley, - was erected in 1869.

He was L.L., 1855-58 - 1859-64. (Cf. Carlisle-str.)

[I think the base is still in situ. KF, Jan 2001]**

5. Crampton.

The bronze memorial of Sir Philip Crampton, M.D. (1777-1858), cr; - a baronet in 1839, Surgeon-general and naturalist, near the eastern end of College-str., - a bust by Joseph Kirk,-was unveiled, 15 Aug., 1862.

6. Dargan.**

The bronze statue of William Dargan (1799-1867), railway-contractor, in Leinster Lawn (the site of his Exhibition of 1853), - by Thomas Farrell, - was unveiled, 30 March, 1864, having cost about £500. [Now in front of the National Gallery. KF.]

(Cf. Dargan-ter.)

7. Davis.

The marble statue of Thomas Osborne Davis (1814-45), poet and patriot, in Mount Jerome Cemetery, - by John Hogan (1800-58), - was erected over his grave in 18—.

(CL Thomas Davis-str.)**

8. Eglinton.**

The bronze statue of Archibald Wm. Montgomery, 13th Earl of Eglinton and Winton (1812-61), in S. Stephen’s-green, - by Patrick Mac Dowell, R.A., (1799-1870), - was erected in 1866, at a cost of £2,000.

He was L.L. 1852-53, 1858-59. [Not there. KF.]

(Cf. Eglinton-rd, and Winston-rd.)**

9. George I.**

The bronze equestrian statue of George I. (1660-1727), in the Mansion house Garden, Dawson-str., - originally erected on Essex-bridge in 1722, was removed, on the rebuilding of that bridge in 1753, to Aungier-str., where it remained until 1798, when it was ‘re-elevated’ in its present position.

(Cf. George’s-str., off S. George’s-quay.) [Not there. KF]**

10. George II.**

The bronze equestrian statue of George II. (1683-1760), in S. Stephen’s-green, - by J. Van Nost, -was erected in 1758;

[Another bronze statue of the same monarch, erected in 1750,** stands in a niche in front of the Weavers’-hall, Coombe.] [Neither remain. KF]

11. Goldsmith.**

The bronze statue of Oliver Goldsmith (I728-84), in front of Trinity College, -by John Henry Foley, - was unveiled, 5 Jan., 1864.

Goldsmith had been a student of the College. [It’s still there. KF.]

(CL Goldsmith-str.)**

12. Gough.**

The bronze equestrian statue of Hugh, Viscount Gough (1750-1820), in the Phoenix-park, - designed by John Henry Foley, - was unveiled 21 Feb., 1880.

The Corporation of the City had refused permission for its erection in Foster-pl. or in Westmoreland-str. [Gone. KF.]**

13. Grattan.**

The bronze statue of the Rt. Hon. Henry Grattan (1750-1820), M.P., in College-green, by John Henry Foley, - was unveiled 7 Jan., 1876.

The Hon. J. P. Vereker has deposited in the Library of T.C.D. all the documents connected with the erection of this statue, - which had its origin in a proposed presentation to the late Alexander Martin Sullivan (1830-1884), by whom the erection was suggested. [Still there, facing the front entrance to Trinity. KF.]

(CL Grattan-br.)**

14. Gray.**

The marble statue of Sir John Gray, M.P., M.D. (1816-75), in Sackville-str. lr., - by Thomas Farrell, - was unveiled, 24 June, 1879.

An inscription records his services to the city, in assisting in the introduction (1868) of a supply of water from the river Vartry in the Co. Wicklow. [Still there. KF.]

(There is also a bust in Glasnevin Cemetery.)

15. Guinness.**

The bronze statue of Sir Benjamin Lee Guinness, bart. (1798-1868), in the open space, south of the nave of S. Patrick’s Cathedral, - by John Henry Foley, - was erected in 1875 to commemorate his munificence in the restoration (1865) of the Cathedral.

(Cf. Guinness-str.)**

16. MacDonnell.**

The marble statue of the Rt. Hon. Sir Alexander MacDonnell bart (1794-1875) Resident Commissioner of National Education 1839-71 in the grounds of the National Model Schools, in Marlborough str., - by Thomas Farrell - was unveiled 14 Aug 1878, having cost about £800.

17. Mathew.**

A bronze statue of the Rev. Theobald Mathew (1790-1856), - by Miss Mary Redmond, - is about to be erected in Sackville-str. up. to commemorate his services in the cause of Temperance. [Erected in 1889. Still there. KF.]

18. Moore.**

A bronze statue of Thomas Moore, poet (1779-1852), in College-str., - by Christopher Moore, -was unveiled, 14 Oct., 1857. [There is also a bust in a niche, at 12 Aungier-str., - the house in which the poet was born.] [The statue is still there, facing the Bank of Ireland in College Green.]

19. Nelson.**

The Nelson column, in Sackville-str., 134 feet high (designed by W. Wilkins), surmounted by a stone statue of Horatio, Viscount Nelson (1758-1805), - by Thomas Kirk, R.H..A., - was erected, at an expense of £6,856 in 1808. (Foundation stone-laid by the Duke of Richmond, L.L., on 15 Feb., 1808. [Blown up twice in 1966 - once by the IRA, the stump by the Army. Nelson’s battered head can be seen in the Dublin Civic Museum. KF.]

(Cf. Nelson-str.)**

20. O’Brien.**

The marble statue of William Smith O’Brien (1803-64), patriot, at the northern ends of Westmoreland-str. and D’Olier-str., - by Thomas Farrell, - was unveiled in 1870. [It now stands in O’Connell Street. KF.]

21. O’Connell.

**The bronze statue of Daniel O’Connell (1775-1847), in Sackville-str. lr., - from a design by John Henry Foley, - was unveiled, 15 Aug., 1882. (Foundation stone laid, 8 Aug., 1864.) [Still standing, though with some interesting bullet holes from 1916. KF.]

(Cf. O’Connell-br.)

[Wellington.

The testimonial obelisk in the Phoenix Park, 205 feet high (designed by R. Smirke), to commemorate the victories of Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington (1769-1852), was erected in 1817.

It was originally intended to erect an equestrian statue on a pedestal beside the monument, - but this intention has been abandoned, and the pedestal has been removed. (See the model in the Royal Hibernian Military School.) [Still there - and still unfinished. KF.]

(Cf. Wellington-br.) **

22. William III.**

The bronze equestrian statue of King William III. (1650-1702), in College-green, - the oldest, and long the only statue in Dublin, - was unveiled on I July, 1701, the anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne.

Partially successful attempts to blow up he statue have been made on several occasions.

(Cf. William-str.) [Finally removed after further attempts to blow it up. KF]

**

Note on the Statues**

Of these 22 statues, - 17 are of bronze, four are of marble, and one is of stone.

Four are equestrian, - two are in a sitting posture. Three were erected in the last century, - 19 in the present century, - and, of these latter, 18 have been erected since i856.

Three were Kings, - one, a Prince, - two were Lords Lieutenant, - two happen to have been Lord Mayors, - and three others gained victories by land or sea.

Three were Poets, - three were Orators, - three were Medical Men, - and one was an Educationist.

One was a Clergyman, - and there are two pairs of father and son. Of the 23 persons commemorated (including Wellington, of whom we have no statue), - 16 were Irishmen, of whom at least one half were born in Dublin.

Six of the 23 memorials were erected in the lifetime of the persons commemorated.

Of the 18 statues which have been erected since 1856, - 8 are by John Henry Foley, R.A., and 5 are by Thomas Farrell, R.H.A.

Besides the foregoing, there are open-air statues, religious or symbolical -

1. On some Roman-Catholic Churches (as S. Andrew’s, Westland-row, - St. Paul’s, Arran- quay, - Rathmines, etc.) - and

2. On some Public Buildings (as the Custom House, the Four Courts, the Bank of Ireland, the Post Office, the College of Surgeons, the Royal University, the National Library and Museum.)

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