Con Houlihan
Con Houlihan ~ Bronze
Sculptor ~ Unknown to me.
Con Houlihan was one of Ireland’s premier sportswriters. He was often described as ‘writer, journalist, philosopher, raconteur, Gaelic scholar and gentleman, he entertained his readers with some fantastic writing.
Con looks like a man with a thirst!
This sculpture was erected in the vestibule of The Bank Bar & Restaurant on College Green, in Dublin.
Bank Bar & Restaurant
In a brief eulogy at the end of the funeral service, Ray Hennessy, a friend of the journalist, described Con Houlihan (1925 – 2012) as:
A sculptor of language” who was “sensitive, compassionate, humourous, sometimes extremely funny, courteous, with perfect manners.”
He recalled a comment he made when unable to locate a book of poetry by Gerald Manley Hopkins after a cleaning lady had done her work, “you know, if that woman worked in Trinity College she’d throw out the Book of Kells”.
On another occasion, when Kerry unexpectedly beat Dublin in football he was asked how his friend Harriet, a dedicated Dublin supporter, was taking it, “Con replied ‘House private. No flowers’.”
There was no signature or sculptor’s name on the work and I have been unsuccessful in my search for further information.
Great statue . . . love the pose the sculptor chose.
You can picture Con at the race track or on the sidelines of a football match, making mental notes!
I like his first name!
He might be Cornelius! 😉
You are so fortunate to be surrounded with such good art. Dianne
Dianne, I am fast running out of sculpture photos. These were taken in July this year.
Not very excited by the sculpture but the bar is beautiful – for my money, more beautiful than the Crown in Belfast!
Nick, did you click on the link? It is well worth a visit.
Interesting.
😀
That tavern may just make me turn back to the booze again!
Ramana, The bank has an amazing history and many artefacts. It is well worth a visit with or without a drink!