The Irish Times – Monday, August 8, 2011
MARIE O’HALLORAN
A COMPETITION for the design and commissioning of a €500,000 memorial to the victims of institutional abuse has begun and will be managed by the Office of Public Works.
The memorial, to be located adjacent to the Garden of Remembrance in Dublin, will be created following a recommendation by the Ryan report on abuse and will include the wording of the Government’s apology in 1999.
It stated: “On behalf of the State and of all citizens of the State, the Government wishes to make a sincere and long overdue apology to the victims of childhood abuse for our collective failure to intervene, to detect their pain, to come to their rescue.”
The Ryan report recommended the memorial be erected with the the apology inscribed on it “as a permanent public acknowledgement of their experiences”.
Expressions of interest are being sought by October 13th after which a shortlist of no more than 10 applicants will be asked to give detailed proposals about the design, planning and creation of the memorial.
Following the report the Minister for Education established a committee to consult victims and other interested parties about the nature and location of the memorial. Some victims’ groups expressed reservations about the timing of the proposed memorial but 40 widely varying submissions were received which included suggestions for a reflective space with a garden or playground with an appropriate structure or artwork.
Full details available at education.ie and publicart.ie
