COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

South Dublin County Council Crest

MEETING OF CLONDALKIN, NEWCASTLE, RATHCOOLE, SAGGART AND BRITTAS AREA COMMITTEE

Wednesday, October 21, 2026

QUESTION NO. 15

QUESTION: Councillor F. Timmons

To ask the Chief Executive for a report on the art installation, The Monk and the Viking, on Monastery Road. The report should include details on when the installation is expected to be completed, whether signage will be provided, and whether any other public art projects are planned for the area.

REPLY:

Origami Monk by Ngaire Jackson was installed and completed on the Ninth Lock Road in 2025. Clondalkin was founded by Saint Cronan Mochua as a Monastic Settlement on the River Camac over 1400 years ago and from the early 19th Century until 1987, the River Camac provided water for the Clondalkin Paper Mill. The Paper Mill provided huge employment in the area and constituted a big part of life in Clondalkin. Origami Monk is a large-scale monastic figure that reflects this history.

O’Brien Landscaping were engaged for plant and landscape design for an area that radiates three metres out from the sculpture. The work was recently completed and O’Brien Landscaping will maintain the site over the next year.

The lighting of the Monk has been in place since last Autumn, a lighting design provided by the artist Ngaire Jackson placed four uplighters to the front of the sculpture to provide a warm glow to the front of the sculpture after dark.

An Chluain by Holgar Lonze was installed and completed in 2024 on the Monastery Road, Clondalkin. This sculpture is designed to make the hidden archaeological heritage of Clondalkin visible, marking the important 8th century monastic settlement near the salmon-rich Camac River. The sculpture is lit at night and no further works are required.

The Arts Office will be reviewing signage for all of the permanent indoor and outdoor public artworks in the county in the coming months.

Planning for IN CONTEXT 6, SDCC’s Public Art Programme will be underway in 2027 with public art projects being planned in the Clondalkin area.