Limerick's Bard of Thomond, was honoured with a beautiful bronze statue on the plaza of King John's Castle last week.
December 7, 2005 (Press Release) --
The wonderfully crafted bronze statue of Michael Hogan is a gift to Limerick from Peter J Hogan, a direct descendant of the Bard.
A crowd of over 300 turned up for the unveiling of the statue.
"I used to play around here when I was a little boy," said Mr Hogan who was born in nearby Mary Street and emigrated to America with his family in the 1930's.
His native city remained close to his heart and it was his determination and financial help, combined with the Friends of the Bard committee that made the day possible.
Mayor Diarmuid Scully thanked Mr Hogan for honouring the city with his gift and likened the Bard of Thomond to William Shakespeare such is his effect on Limerick.
"So many of the stories of Limerick come from the words and pages of Michael Hogan," said Mayor Scully.
He made the often forgotten point that Limerick's title makes it completely unique.
"There is no town called sonnet or epic and certainly not iambic pentameter," said the Mayor before proposing the idea of a poetry competition in Limerick.
He thanked the Friends of the Bard committee and praised poet and author Maureen Sparling for driving the move to honour the Bard.
Ms Sparling said she felt like she had "climbed a mountain. It just shows you that if you set your sights on something and believe it can happen then it can come to pass," said Ms Sparling who has been striving for this day for over a decade.
Many people were instrumental in honouring the Bard, John Gilligan, Michael Twomey and the statue's sculptor, Jim Connolly all played their roles in this day becoming a reality.http://www.limerick.com
A crowd of over 300 turned up for the unveiling of the statue.
"I used to play around here when I was a little boy," said Mr Hogan who was born in nearby Mary Street and emigrated to America with his family in the 1930's.
His native city remained close to his heart and it was his determination and financial help, combined with the Friends of the Bard committee that made the day possible.
Mayor Diarmuid Scully thanked Mr Hogan for honouring the city with his gift and likened the Bard of Thomond to William Shakespeare such is his effect on Limerick.
"So many of the stories of Limerick come from the words and pages of Michael Hogan," said Mayor Scully.
He made the often forgotten point that Limerick's title makes it completely unique.
"There is no town called sonnet or epic and certainly not iambic pentameter," said the Mayor before proposing the idea of a poetry competition in Limerick.
He thanked the Friends of the Bard committee and praised poet and author Maureen Sparling for driving the move to honour the Bard.
Ms Sparling said she felt like she had "climbed a mountain. It just shows you that if you set your sights on something and believe it can happen then it can come to pass," said Ms Sparling who has been striving for this day for over a decade.
Many people were instrumental in honouring the Bard, John Gilligan, Michael Twomey and the statue's sculptor, Jim Connolly all played their roles in this day becoming a reality.http://www.limerick.com
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