WORK on a bronze monument to commemorate the thousands of Limerick dockers, is to commence shortly.
Two years ago, Limerick City Council agreed to finance the project and a special committee, chaired by Cllr Jim Long, was set up to oversee the project.
There was a very positive response to the invitation for design submissions for the work and an appropriate riverside location was agreed on.,
“However, the project ran into some trouble when funding was cut back and we had to delay it, but I’m now absolutely thrilled that our persistence to have a fitting monument erected to the generations of men who worked under very harsh conditions for very little pay, is now about to be delivered,” Cllr Long told the Limerick Post. “The original funding has had to be reduced, due to the current economic climate – we have 77,000 euro but are fairly confident of getting some additional private investment. I’m absolutely delighted that our promise to the families and descendants of the men who worked in the docks, can now be fulfilled.
“Work will commence shortly on the monument, which has been commissioned, and we are very hopeful for completion before Christmas”.
The site on which it will be erected is on the riverside quay, opposite the former ESB offices, on Honan’s Quay.
Cllr Long confirmed that the committee will also proceed with producing memorial scrolls on velum, recording the name and employment periods of former dockers, which will be presented to their descendants.
A spokesperson for City Hall said that the Limerick sculptor, Michael Duhan, originally from Wolfe Tone Street, whose father worked in the docks, has been commissioned to execute the work, and she also confirmed their optimism for private investment.
