This article is from page 3 of the 2006-08-15 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 3 JPG
PLANS are to continue for the unveiling of a statue to commemorate Richard Harris next month, even if locals appeal to An Bord Pleanála.
Last week, Clare County Council granted permission for plans to celebrate the late actor in Kilkee in spite of opposition from residents.
Project director Manuel di Lucia said the statue will be unveiled in a ceremony on September 30, irrespective of whether an appeal is lodged.
He added that invites for the September unveiling have already gone out to Hollywood stars Russell Crowe, Pierce Brosnan, Brad Pitt, Danny de Vito and Peter O’Toole.
He also confirmed that over €30,000 of the €42,000 budget has been raised, with former Taoiseach, Albert Reynolds contributing €1,000.
The statue, to be placed in Wellington Square, will depict Harris playing racquet ball, in memory of the Limerick man winning four competitions in a row in the resort where he spent much of his summer holidays.
The twice Oscar-nominated actor had strong associations with Kilkee, and his three sons have confirmed that they will contribute €21,000 to the project.
According to Mr di Lucia, they will also be present for the unveiling of the statue by local sculptor, Seamus Connolly.
Mr di Lucia said that “the statue will be very good for Kilkee and will bring a lot of people into the resort”.
The proposal had resulted in five objections. Kieran Walsh, of Bella Vista, West End, Kilkee said, “This statue will become a focal point for people at night and unruly behaviour is likely to cause severe inconvenience to residents.”
Meanwhile, Limerick community activist, Sean O’Neill, last night hit out at the plan, claiming that Harris contributed very little either to Kilkee or his native city.
“The fact is the actor spent most of his time in the Bahamas,” said Mr. O’Neill. “His last wish was to have his ashes scattered there.”
O’Neill instead proposes a memorial to the Limerick writer JM O’Neill who retired to Kilkee where he wrote the award-winning novel of Limerick life, Bennett and Company , before his death in 1999.