VIDEO: First glimpse of Athlone's new landmark sculpture being created

Adrian Cusack

Published: Fri 16 Oct 2020, 5:04 PM

Last updated: Fri 16 Oct 2020, 5:22 PM

Here is the first glimpse of work being carried out on Rory Breslin's 'Mask of the Shannon' sculpture, which is due to be installed in the centre of Athlone next month.

This video, from Odyssey Studios in Limerick, shows a robotic CNC milling or machining process being carried out on the sculpture during its creation:

The artwork by the Mayo-based sculptor is a bronze mask, approximately eight-foot tall, which will be mounted on a two-foot limestone plinth at Custume Place, close to the Genoa Cafe.

The €60,000 piece was commissioned last year and is being funded by Westmeath County Council.

It has proven controversial, with local objectors arguing it's based on inappropriate colonial symbolism from the Custom House in Dublin.

* See next week's Westmeath Independent for an interview with Rory Breslin about the sculpture, along with some more photos of the piece as it approaches completion.