Sculpture To Kerry Women’s Role In Irish Revolutionary Period Unveiled

THE role played by the women of Kerry during the revolutionary period in Ireland has been acknowledged and celebrated with the unveiling of a commemorative sculpture in Tralee on Friday afternoon.

The first of its kind in the country and the first ever to be commissioned by a local authority, the memorial follows a proposal from the female elected members of Kerry County Council for a fitting tribute to the contribution of Kerry women during the pivotal period between 1912 and 1923.

A motion brought forward by the then councillors – Norma Moriarty, Aoife Thornton, Deirdre Ferris, Maura Healy-Rae and Marie Moloney – in 2023 acknowledged that Kerry women of all ages, in many different ways, contributed to the changes which shaped a new Ireland, and which were worthy of a lasting commemorative memorial.

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The 2.5m sculpture, titled ‘Spiorad Ban Chiarraí’ or ‘Spirit of the Kerry Women’ was completed by the award-winning Irish sculptor Elizabeth O’Kane and was unveiled in Tralee Town Park by the female elected members of Kerry County Council.

The piece, which is 100 inches in height, depicts a woman in uniform marching forward and raising the Irish flag.

Elizabeth O’Kane worked with live models to capture the sculpture’s purposeful contrapposto pose.

To ensure historical accuracy in the clothing and accessories, she referenced period uniforms associated with Cumann na mBan and Cumann na Saoirse, complete with a Sam Browne belt and Slouch hat.

“The sculpture was a year and a half in the making, from sculpting the larger-than-life-size clay figure in my studio, to the many months of highly skilled bronze casting carried out in a Dublin foundry,” said Elizabeth.

Elizabeth O’Kane was awarded the commission for the sculpture following an open call for submissions.

She is a member of the Society of Portrait Sculptors, and her work can be seen in Leinster House, the European Parliament, Shannon Airport and Irish embassies in London and Washington. Elizabeth has sculpted John Hume, Dr. Garrett FitzGerald and John Count McCormack.

Ms O’Kane said: “From start to finish, it has been a labour of love – artists often claim to suffer for their work, but I have the X-ray to prove it! A fractured wrist in the middle of the project was extremely untimely, but I am immensely proud of the final result. It has been a privilege to commemorate the women of this period with a sculpture that celebrates their courage, sacrifice, and enduring legacy.”

Mayor of Tralee, Cllr Angie Baily, who was among those who unveiled the sculpture, said that it was an evocative and vibrant tribute to the role played by women in Kerry during the years before Irish independence was achieved.

“This is a beautiful memorial which reflects the wide and diverse roles of Kerry women during the revolution whether they took part in combat or contributed to a wide range of social, cultural and political activities and organisations like Cumann na mBan. Sadly, for too long, the story of these women during this period was sidelined and ignored and I believe that this sculpture will encourage new engagement with the remarkable role of the women of Kerry during this formative and turbulent time,” she said.

The project was supported by funding from the Department of Housing and Local Government under the Percent for Arts Scheme.