Black Tom Butler returns to Carrick-on-Suir as wooden sculpture in town's Castle Park

Pictured above at the unveiling of the sculpture were from left: Cllr Mark Fitzgerald, Brian Beck, Carrick Municipal  District Director, Cllr Amy Goldsboro, District Engineer Michael Scully, Denis Power Area Engineer, newly elected Cathaoirleach of Carrick-on-Suir MD Cllr David Dunne, Cllr Kieran Bourke, Cllr Michael 'Chicken' Brennan, Marie Cox, District Administrator and Ciarán O'Shea, Project Manager. Picture Anne Marie Magorrian

A wooden sculpture of Ormond Castle’s most famous resident – Black Tom Butler – was officially unveiled in Castle Park by Carrick-on-Suir Municipal District’s newly elected Cathaoirleach Cllr David Dunne last Thursday.

The impressive statue of the 10th Earl of Ormond was carved by Holycross based sculptor Philip Quinn.

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It joins three other wooden art works created by the Killenaule man that were installed in Castle Park last summer. They are a sculpture depicting two mythological griffin creatures, who are part of the Butlers of Ormond family crest, and two seats carved from felled trees.

Mr Quinn was commissioned to create the art works for Castle Park as part of the €17.8m Carrick Regeneration Scheme.

Tipperary County Council is required to devote 1% of the Rural Regeneration Development Fund grant allocated for the Scheme, up to a maximum of €125,000, on public art commissions.

Carrick Municipal District Administrator Marie Cox said Mr Quinn is now working on a fifth art work for Castle Park. It’s another wooden sculpture of a well-known historical figure.

She said public art works will also be created for other areas of the town as part of the Regeneration Scheme.

The unveiling of the Black Tom sculpture was Cllr Dunne’s first official function as Carrick MD’s new Cathaoirleach. He is very impressed with the statue.

“It’s fantastic; the attention to detail is just unbelievable. Everyone seems to be very happy with it,” he said.

The art works are the finishing touch on the facelift of Castle Park that was carried out during the Carrick Regeneration Scheme’s first phase.

Cllr Dunne said the whole of the park is now being used by the public as a place of recreation since the completion of the facelift.

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