KILDARE: Search is on to identify mysterious sculpture found in sod of turf

placeholder image — The sculpture found in a sod of turf

A local sculptor is hoping to identify the origin of a mysterious sculpture found in a sod of turf.

In the autumn of 2018 sculptor Conor Lane, a native of Newbridge, had a stall at the Town Hall Market, Newbridge where he was approached by a local man, Charlie O’Neill.

He asked if Conor could identify an artifact that he had found in a sod of turf over fifty years ago.

Conor was intrigued when Mr O’Neill showed him a 10-inch wooden figurine of a musician playing a fiddle.

It had been found in a dry sod of turf in a delivery his neighbour received and which his dog had been chewing.

If it were not for the dog, it would have been burned in the fire. At that time Conor was sure that the piece was not carved from bog oak.

Four years later at the annual KWWSPCA Christmas market in Ryston, Newbridge, Mr O’Neill gave Conor the wood carving as a gift. Conor promised to find out as much as he could about it. To date he has not been able to learn its origins or what wood it is made from. Conor is an expert in bog oak and does not think it is made from it.

It might be carved from a branch of sally, whitethorn or maybe hawthorn. The bog from which the turf came is not known but it is probably local. He also thinks it might be a carving of a Spailpín Fanach (a migrant or seasonal farmworker).

Conor asked: "Has anyone seen something similar? Anyone who worked on the bogs might have seen people carving such items. Conor would love to find out the origins of this intriguing little piece of art and solve the mystery for Charlie O’Neill who

found it over fifty years ago in a sod of turf.

If you have any information on this figurine, please contact: conorlaneonline@gmail.