New sculpture is now perched on Carey’s Lane

The next time you find yourself strolling along Carey's Lane, be sure to cast your gaze upwards and catch sight of a charming new feathered resident.

The seagull is part of a sculpture called Sentinels[flew through the ages in the shape of birds], by Irish artist Niamh McCann and is the first of five contemporary sculptures to be installed around the city this year. The sculptures are part of a cultural trail for locals and visitors intended to enhance the cityscape.

Island City, Cork's Urban Sculpture Trail is the biggest ever single investment in public art in the city. Four of the sculptures have already been commissioned by the National Sculpture Factory, and the fifth will be chosen through an open call process, which will begin in the coming weeks. The temporary artworks will remain in place for a period of five years.

‘Sentinels’, by artist Niamh McCann stretches the length of Carey’s Lane and is influenced by the architecture, geography, and incidental features of the alleyway. The work is fixed above head height on the lane and is held by the simple image of a seagull, perched atop a neon strip, on either end of Carey's Lane. The sculpture is intended to be intriguing and playful, animating the lane by day and by night.

Niamh said: “I have a real fondness for Cork having spent formative years as a student and artist here and it’s my home away from home. I wanted to really get the true feeling of the city across in the piece. ‘Sentinels’ is a nod to the old and the new - from Cork city’s diverse and migratory history and its merchant and yachting tradition to its welcoming of new cultures and its urban adaptability.”

Niamh explained that the lane's rich history, including its craft and cultural heritage, as well as the nearby Huguenot graveyard, was what inspired her work. She used sustainable materials like bronze, jesmonite, and cedar wood for the installation. She says that the red rope connecting the pieces pays homage to the traditional colour of the Rebel county.

Welcoming the sculpture

Cork’s new Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr. Kieran McCarthy, said: "Island City - Cork's Urban Sculpture Trail is a testament to the resilience and creativity of our cultural sector and we were delighted to partner with Fáilte Ireland and work with the National Sculpture Factory to bring it to fruition.”

Over the coming months the remaining four sculptures will be installed on the Exchange Building on Princes Street, Cook Street, The Coal Quay and Triskel Christchurch.

To learn more about Island City, follow @IslandCityCorkSculpture on Instagram.