Thu, Apr 11, 2013, 20:00

Dublin City Council’s planners are expected to approve the winning scheme for a memorial to victims of institutional abuse at the Garden of Remembrance in Parnell Square after they receive further information on the €500,000 project.

All six shortlisted entries for an international competition — including the winning scheme, “Journey of Light”, by Dublin-based Studio Negri and Hennessy & Associates — were unveiled tonight by Minister for Education Ruairi Quinn.
The winners say their project “creates a fluid progression between the Garden of Remembrance, which commemorates those who died for the cause of Irish freedom, with a memorial dedicated to the young victims of abuse” in Irish institutions.
A passageway, lit at night and flanked by fossilised limestone walls as well as “gently cascading” waterfalls, would be inserted to the rear of Oisin Kelly’s Children of Lir monument, in line with the Irish flag, with the State apology inscribed at child’s eye level.

The proposal for a memorial was made in the Ryan Report, which said it should “spotlight an episode of significance in the history of the State [and] provide a point of reference with sensory significance that keeps alive the memory of those who suffered loss and pain”.

After consulting with survivor groups, a memorial committee decided to hold an international competition to find the right design. From 32 entries, the shortlist of six was selected by a jury chaired by Sean Benton, former chairman of the Office of Public Works (OPW).

The site adjacent to the Garden of Remembrance was made available by the OPW for the project, which the memorial committee — appointed by Mr Quinn — said should be “an enduring symbol of lost innocence that inspires others to ensure the protection of all children”.

Mr Quinn said he believed the winning scheme would be “a testimony to one of the darkest chapters in our State’s history and … serve as a constant reminder that we must never let such horrendous crimes against children happen again”.
The other shortlisted entries were submitted by Cleary & Connolly, known for their quirky art installations, with Hugh Maguire and Vincent O’Shea; FKL Architects with sculptor Michael Warren; Peter Maybury and Tom de Paor Architects, NJBA and Seamus Nolan.
All six schemes are on exhibition at the Darc Space gallery, 26 North Great George’s Street, until May 3rd. Further information from http://www,darcspace.ie

Frank McDonald, Irish Times Newspaper.

 

10 Responses to “Memorial to victims of child abuse expected to be approved by planners”

  1. robert says:

    I have not seen one thing Mr. Walsh has opposed if he represents survivors not one to anyone. So if certain survivors agree to a Religious COFFIN that is their right but to FORCE those who do not want this CATHOLIC BURIAL that is SO SO WRONG and invasive of human rights to stick ALL survivors in this and to remember them as such is RACIAL/ SPIRITUALITY DISCRIMINATION they have NO RIGHT to do this.

  2. robert says:

    15000 Survivors came forward and they have all the names and addresses why could the Government not send out the simple question form first ? would you like a memorial how would you find this sft help you personally?
    then we would NOT have personal views of those who claim to represent survivors stampede over those who oppose that is if they ever get the chance to oppose, the very reason there is a lot of opposition here to the fund and the memorial

  3. robert says:

    I just had to view what was going on here Paddy, Yes survivors have a right to air views but I feel it must be said to your question about the stf that SURVIVORS have NOT been approached in a democratic way. This to many survivors was an INVASION of those who do not want this precise memorial it is a LARGE CATHOLIC COFFIN and for us who know far more than most about ART a MEMORIAL is for the DEAD. and the fund my question has never been answered WHY WER CHILDREN CLASSED AS TOO YOUNG to be INCLUDED in the PREVIOUS FUNDS? how many Survivors benefitted from those funds themselves compared to the family members? where are all the faults about these funds gone as there is ALWAYS faults in life? What say did survivors have if they did not need Education, counselling, and family tracing? but instead needed homes and welfare support, what has been done for the less fortunate homeless, disabled, hospitalized substances abuse they said survivors would not loose ANY welfare benefits but the HARDSHIP funds were removed as REDRESS WAS TO BE SEEN AS SUFFICIENT SAVINGS. You know this Mr. Walsh, But you sir did NOTHING for those survivors.

  4. David (Wolverhampton) says:

    I couldn’t agree with you more Micheal. You have explained my previous comments in more depth. It must have been an awful experience for relatives of survivors of the institutions to comprehend what their parents or grandparents had gone through and all the more reason why this unnecessary and unforgivable abusive and sad time in Irish history should never be forgotten.

    I also appreciate that people (including survivors) have a right to voice their opinions, even if it goes against what others may wish and think, but for me personally, I am delighted to have a memorial which will be a reminder of the horrific abuses carried out by the religious orders – ‘another (sad) moment in time in the history of Ireland.’

  5. David,

    Well said I am delighted you have the courage in your convictions to say that it is something that you think it is a great idea. I have spoke on radio, press etc. many times regarding my personal support of the Proposed monument and have given the Committee (including Paddy) the credit they deserve for their choice.

    Taking aside my Professional work with Survivors – being a son of a Survivor, I cannot wait to have a place of reflection to bring my kids to to show them their grandfathers history and to remind them that he was a unique citizen who meant something in our history.

    Whilst I appreciate people have the right to voice their opinion one way or the other – I think people need to remind themselves that to me the Monument is a beginning and not a closure as some people suggest. It’s a beginning of the state recognising and showing to our citizens, that we must never forget and never loose sight of how we treat our vulnerable into the future and this includes the future of Survivors and their families

  6. David says:

    Personally, I believe a memorial is a great idea and I believe that it is right that future generations know and understand how the innocent children of Ireland were abused by religious orders whilst in their care. The very religious orders that tried to teach us about Irish history are now part of that history, just like the famine, the 1916 Rising and other events that should never be forgotten.

  7. Paddy says:

    I pose the question again. If all these people you claim who don’t want anything to do with the STF, then what do they want in its place? I’m curious by nature. Likewise with what you refer to as ‘the garden’ what would you do with the funding allocated for that if the Memorial does not come to pass. It’s easy to be critical, harder to be constructive. Paddy.

  8. jack says:

    the truth is a monument

  9. Paddy says:

    To each their own opinion. Paddy.

  10. Rose says:

    I wonder just how many victims of the institutional abuse, actually want this monument. I most definetly do not.