COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF TALLAGHT AREA COMMITTEE

Monday, June 28, 2021

QUESTION NO. 9

QUESTION: Councillor C. King

To ask the Chief Executive to update the Council on the proposal to include a Commemorative Statue/Sculpture representing the Battle of Tallaght during the Rising of 1867 at the Village area location for one of the three pieces to be included in the N81 Improvement Plan. The three areas identified and approved originally were near the Spawell Roundabout, the area around the N81 Junction with Tallaght Village and the top end of Jobstown near the Jobstown Inn.

REPLY:

The N81 landscape scheme as passed by the Council under Part 8 of the Planning and Development Act specifies a number of locations for artwork including:

• Sean Walsh Park entrance, Old Bawn Junction
• The N81 junction leading to Jobstown
• The Spawell Roundabout

The Part 8 proposal did not propose that the art installations be a direct commission of a commemorative figure but, as outlined in replies to previous motions, the artworks were proposed to be an artistic competition based on a number of themes related to the N81 and to the Tallaght area.  

There were a number of suggestions during the Part 8 public consultation process for themes / information to be incorporated into the artwork closest to Tallaght village, including the following items:

• The Leinster Roads Races (1930s to 40s) who used this road as part of their track
• The monastic 8th century heritage of St Maelruain and the Céile Dé.

The Part 8 report committed to including those ideas as themes / information in the brief for any artist for the artwork at this location closest to Tallaght.

After the Part 8, and at the request of the Tallaght Area Committee, the Fenian Rising of 1867 was also incorporated into the themes / information for the proposed artwork at this location.

The brief for the art works was issued earlier this year and included in the brief for the artist was information related to the above themes as requested and agreed, including information relating to the Fenian Rising of 1867, as well as information on the rich heritage in the area, including significant cultural and natural heritage, in the area the N81 passes through. Cultural heritage in this area is strong and the area has an energy and dynamism that is reflected in new residential developments, re-developments and increasing cultural diversity; and one theme explores the theme of universal heritage across cultures.

Given the interest in the art work at this location closest to Tallaght and the submissions received at the Part 8 stage; previous replies to questions in this regard reiterated that the proposal would be included as one of a number of themes provided to the artists to allow them to develop their proposal (rather than a specific monument designed to commemorate one event). The tender for the art work is currently underway.