LIMERICK City and County Council have agreed to bring the ‘Wild Geese’ fountain, located at the back of City Hall on Merchant’s Quay, back to its “former glory” next year.
Independent councillor John Gilligan had a motion before this month’s Metropolitan District meeting calling for a Council official to be appointed to have the monument repaired.
The fountain beneath the Wild Geese sculpture has been repaired on numerous occasions and Cllr Gilligan took issue with some of the repair works on the fountain.
“The fountain should be repaired and brought back up to standard. There was beautiful intricate bullrushes and flowers on the fountain but these details have been lost in the repairs. It looks like a first year welder apprentice went at it,” the City North representative declared.
The Wild Geese monument, sculptured by William H. Turner, was a gift from the government of Spokane in Washington, USA to honour the families that were forced to flee Limerick following the siege.
Former Mayor Kieran O’Hanlon (FF), who visited Spokane two years ago, said the monument’s current state was “offensive” to the people in this eastern Washington city.
“This means an awful lot to the people of Spokane. It shouldn’t be allowed deteriorate to such a bad state,” he told the council executive.
Seconding Cllr Gilligan’s motion, Fine Gael councillor Elenora Hogan said the fountain should be moved to a more prominent position.
“It is pathetic where it is. It needs to be restored to its former glory,” she said.
Sinn Fein councillor John Costello urged the Council to employ a conservation officer to oversee the maintenance and upkeep of all Limerick’s monuments.
Head of Property Services, Jane Leahy told council members that bringing the fountain back to its former glory would be a priority for 2019.
“We’re working on it,” she added.
