*Elected Members and local authority staff of Shannon MD pictured with Councillor Pat O’Gorman, Cathaoirleach of Shannon MD at the unveiling of tree sculptures at Shannon Town Park, County Clare. Photograph: Eamon Ward
IN A first for a public park in Clare, the remains of felled trees have been transformed into sculptures.
Shannon Town Park’s landscape is now dotted into woodland carvings with the creation of tree sculptures from the remains of felled trees in the town. The initiative, spearheaded by the Shannon Municipal District, turned a necessary public safety act of tree removal into an opportunity to promote environmental awareness and artistic reuse.
Trees used for the scheme were identified as unsafe earlier this year and posed a risk to visitors of the Town Park.
Rather than clearing the stumps completely, Clare County Council engaged renowned wood sculptor Will Fogarty of Fear na Coillte to breathe new life into the tree remnants.
Among the sculptures featured throughout the An Taisce International Green Flag Award-winning public park are detailed carvings of owls, foxes, rabbits, a bumblebee, and a fairy house.
Cathaoirleach of the Shannon MD, Cllr Pat O’Gorman (FF) explained, “The Shannon MD Office, with the support of Elected Members, saw an opportunity not just to manage a safety issue, but to do so in a way that aligned with the local authority’s environmental values. The project also offers financial practicality. The cost of sculpting and partial removal matched that of full removal, making it both an economical and imaginative solution”.
Speaking at Monday’s meeting of Clare County Council he praised the Shannon MD staff for “thinking outside the box”. He confirmed all seven councillors in the area contributed via funds from their General Municipal Allocation. “The Mela festival was on in the Town Park and you could see the joy in the children’s eyes when they saw these sculptures”.
“This is the first time we’ve had in-situ tree sculpting done in a public park in Clare,” outlined senior executive engineer in the Shannon MD, Tom Mellett. “We are proud to lead on something that combines public safety, artistic expression, and sustainability. These sculptures not only enrich the park experience but will also support our efforts to maintain our Green Flag status for the fourth year running”.
He continued, “Funded through Shannon MD’s own resources and the General Municipal Allocation (GMA) fund, the project reinforces the importance of reuse in public works and underscores the local authority’s ongoing commitment to enhancing biodiversity and community spaces”.
