The recently-restored ‘Off Shore’ sculpture at Blackrock was unveiled this week by Lord Mayor Fergal Dennehy.
The restored piece, originally created by renowned sculptor John Burke, was unveiled on Monday by Mr Dennehy and his father, former lord mayor John Dennehy — who played a central role in the original Cork 800 programme, from which the sculpture emerged.
Mr Dennehy said unveiling the restored sculpture alongside his father was “especially meaningful” as he was “a driving force” behind the Cork 800 celebrations.
“This restoration ensures the work can continue to be appreciated by residents and visitors for many years to come,”
said Mr Dennehy.
Mr Burke, who died in 2006, was a pioneering sculpturist who was one of the most significant figures in the history of sculpture in Ireland in the second half of the 20th century.
He was also instrumental in defining sculptural practice in Ireland during the 1970s, and as a lecturer at the Crawford School of Art, influenced a generation of prominent Irish artists, including Eilís O’Connell, Vivienne Roche, Maud Cotter, and Jim Buckley.
His piece, ‘Off Shore’, was commissioned in 1985 as part of a sculpture symposium held at the former AnCO training centre in Bishopstown, and was supported by Cork 800 — the programme established by the then Cork Corporation to mark the 800th anniversary of the city’s 1185 charter.
The restoration of ‘Off Shore’ was supported by the members of Cork City Council’s south east local area committee and Cork City Council’s arts office.
The Council’s arts office also restored the large John Burke sculpture, ‘Kingfisher’, at Wilton roundabout in collaboration with the south west local area committee in 2021.
These pieces, and Mr Burke’s ‘The Red Cardinal’ at the Department of Health in Dublin, are among his most enduring public works.