HEART Project, Morning Star
by Denis O' Conor and Bernie Rutter
The artwork celebrates the area’s rich industrial/social history and culture. The Mall Quay, Ballyshannon’s port with reference to its shipping heritage, was the first port in Ireland to import coal. It also was a port of departure for immigrants fleeing the famine. The ancient title of the River Erne ‘Morning Star’, its listing in the Annals of the four masters, the first settlers in Ireland on Inis Saimer, the demise of the Abbey Assaroe with particular reference to the name Port na Morrav [port of the dead], the solemn funeral procession being broken by the sound of the abbey bell, the loss of the Falls of Assaroe, rhythmic flowing movement, were other influences which shaped the work.
HEART Project, Morning Star, 2008
Commissioned under the HEART project and supported by Donegal County Council Public Art Program under the Per Cent for Art Scheme. The sculpture is of a ‘landmark’ scale, 6.5 meters in height, it is made up of a number of forms, such as the flowing ‘water line’ which makes reference to the Assaroe falls and River Erne. The Boat form which makes reference to the Mall Port, is elevated above the waterline and is positioned to look out towards the Atlantic ocean. The sculpture is located on the Allingham roundabout near Ballyshannon, Co. Donegal.
Click to download the HEART PROJECT brochure
Biography of artist
Denis O'Connor and Bernie Rutter
Sculpture Works is made up of Denis O'Connor and Bernie Rutter and is based in Wirksworth, Derbyshire. They have created work for a wide variety of different public and private sector contexts both nationally and internationally, including numerous commissions, residencies and exhibitions.
