Glasson artist’s sculpture goes on display in Dublin’s Mater Hospital

by Kevin O'Neill

As a young boy, Athlone sculptor Sean Gallagher began his artistic journey in his parent's garage at their house in Glasson.

With his mother Eithne working as an art school-teacher across the Midlands, there were always pieces of material, like plasticine and empty cardboard boxes, hanging around.

Playfully, Sean, then a pupil at Tubberclair NS, would try out all sort of different shapes and designs.

“I would only be messing around, really,” he said.

But there, at his fingertips, was actually a starting point for what's become a hugely successful career in the world of sculpting.

And Sean’s career hit a particular high point recently with the unveiling of his poignant commemorative sculpture installation 'Our Covid Warriors' at The Mater Hospital, Dublin. The bronze sculpture, which took about two years for Sean to complete, was dedicated to the hospital’s staff and designed to honour those who lived and worked through the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Particular relevance is placed on those unfortunate enough to lose loved ones during the pandemic,” Sean told the Westmeath Independent.

One such person who attended the unveiling of the piece at The Mater was hospital employee, Rita Keogh, who lost a family member during the pandemic, and joined hospital CEO, Josephine Ryan, and director of the hospital’s Office of Mission Effectiveness, Dolores Heery. Proud members of Sean's family (parents Eithne and John, and sister Bronagh) also attended the unveiling last month.

The former Athlone Community College student said: “I was fortunate enough to be asked to become artist-in-residence at the Mater Hospital in 2023, after Navin Hyder left the position. It's been a great role so far. I am full-time in the hospital and that environment gives me a chance to speak to patients and workers, and potentially use those conversations and insights in my work. I really enjoy it, you never know what project is going to come your way next, and to have the sculpture unveiled was a proud moment for me and my family.”

The sculpture, which was cast by The Bronze Art Foundry in Dublin, took its place in the hospital's Wellness Garden, and features five bowed figures, symbolising 'the quiet determination, endurance and solidarity that defined the experience of the pandemic'.

In a press release, the Mater Hospital said that “while Covid was a collective event, it was lived differently by every individual... (Sean’s) sculpture aims to provide a lasting space of hope and reflection within the hospital grounds for staff, patients and visitors.”

After enjoying his time at Athlone Community College, Sean furthered his education at the Institute of Art, Design & Technology in Dún Laoghaire.

“That's really when I put all my eggs in the art basket, and it's gone really well so far,” said 30-year-old Sean.

After a year working in Chicago, USA, at a fabrication studio, Sean obtained a Masters degree from The National College of Art & Design (NCAD), where his interest in mixing dermatology (a branch of medicine dealing with the skin) and sculpture came to the fore. He then worked for NCAD before taking the job at The Mater, which is widely recognised as a centre of excellence in Ireland for many forms of medical care including cardiac care, cancer care, spine care, eye care and orthopaedics.

“It's a big honour to have my work unveiled there, it really is,” said Sean.

“In the future I just want to keep sculpting and enjoying it. The piece in the Mater started as a really small thing, and I didn't think much of it as I was dabbling with it.

“But the lesson I learned from this is that, as a sculptor or any artist, it's often a project you think is less likely to catch someone's eye that actually does. I will keep ploughing away at my work and hopefully come up with some more interesting sculptures,” he added.

Sean also wanted to thank various people who helped and supported him through the project, including his family and friends, the staff at Mater Hospital, and Dave O'Brien and his staff at The Bronze Art Foundry.