A PUBLIC art instillation to commemorate the humanitarian work of two Limerick brothers was unveiled on the banks of the Shannon in Limerick City earlier today.
The memorial bench and sculpture at Barrington’s Pier celebrates the lives of Limerick-born priests, Aengus and Jack Finucane who devoted their lives to helping the world’s most deprived communities.
The Finucanes were young priests during the famine in Biafra in 1968, when John and Kay O’Loughlin-Kennedy formed Concern Africa, now known as Concern Worldwide, in response to the crisis.
It’s from there that the Finnucanes’ long history with Concern started, with both brothers working to help the charity’s evolution. Fr Aengus eventually went on to lead Concern during the 1980’s and early 1990’s.
Speaking at the unveiling of the memorial, Concern Worldwide chief executive Dominic MacSorley described that Finucane brothers as “giants of men” and said that what they achieved was extraordinary.
“While they had received the freedom of the City of Limerick, we wanted a lasting and visible tribute to remind this and future generations of the power of positive change, change that was made possible through the generous support of the people of Limerick and across every county in Ireland, Mr MacSorley explained.
“The unveiling on the eve of World Humanitarian Day, will reflect on the legacy of the Finucane brothers and the plight of communities around the world who today are deeply affected by conflict, climate change and hunger.”
Mayor Francis Foley said the brothers were granted the Freedom of Limerick in recognition of their tireless work in Africa and Asia.
“Their work in developing countries is unsurpassed and their legacies will live on as these countries and their peoples continue to develop, become wealthier and carve out their place on the world stage,” he added.
“Frs Jack and Aengus have been with Concern since it was founded in 1968, a name which is still synonymous with care-giving, emergency response relief and compassion. This new monument to the brothers captures their spirit of looking outward to other places while having roots and a sense of place in Limerick.”
“It is a wonderful addition to our city and to the quiet area at Barrington’s Pier.”
The memorial was funded by contributions in kind from a number of Limerick businesses, supporters of the Finucanes and Concern, and is completely separate to donations for Concern’s overseas work.The project was supported by Limerick City and County Council.
It features a large timber bench whose shape reflects the flow of the Shannon, along with one and a half life-sized steel sculptures, filled with river stone capturing the spirt of both men; Aengus standing with arms out, pushing against the walls of poverty, hunger and injustice while Jack is represented sitting, with knee on ankle, portraying his reflective personality, a problem solver yet equally as passionate and driven.
The commemorative bench entitled, ‘Giants of Men’ was designed and crafted by Tom Roche from Rhode in County Offaly and Dublin-based Knut Klimmek who won the commission for the piece following a public tender.
Both men are furniture makers and the bench was created by Knut from construction material manufactured from forest thinning donated by Medite-Smartply, a Coillte company based in Waterford, while Tom created the stainless steel metal frames that form the shapes for the river-stone sculptures.
“The project was a challenge from the start. It is not often that one gets the opportunity to get involved with a project like this, which saw our creativity and technical know-how pushed to the limit,” said Knut.
“The figures owe their existence to the single minded determination that Tom Roche brings to bear on any project he gets involved in. We are delighted to have been involved in the project and humbled by the confidence that Concern showed in us by commissioning the memorial,” he added.
The memorial took more than two years to complete. The sculptures were made at Tom’s workshop at his home in Rhode while the bench was hand-carved by Knut at his studio in Dublin.
It was replicated at Tom’s home, with the sculptures starting life as chipboard figures which then saw Tom bending the stainless steel by hand around the chipboard to get the correct shapes. These curved shapes were then removed from the mannequins and welded together around an inner skeleton to create the outer frames of the figures, which were then filled with river washed stones.
It was then taken apart, and transported to the site in Limerick before being re-assembled.
The bench will not only provide a resting place for the people of Limerick, overlooking the Shannon, but will also mark the contribution which two proud Limerick brothers made to the city’s rich legacy.
