Council completes restoration of Manchester Martyrs’ Monument in Clare town

THE MANCHESTERR Martyrs’ Monument in Kilrush was recently restored by Clare County Council.

This was completed with grant aid from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage under the Historic Structures Fund and with the support of Cllr. Ian Lynch, Clare County Council.

The fully restored monument was visited by Cllr. Ian Lynch and Pat Dowling, Chief Executive of Clare County Council.

The project was managed by the Planning section of Clare County Council with input from Kilrush and District Historical Society and Kilrush Town Team.

The works to the monument were completed by Mid-West Lime Ltd in collaboration with heritage blacksmith Brendan St. John and involved the full restoration of the stonework and wrought iron railings. All works were guided by conservation best practice.

The Manchester Martyrs’ Monument was erected in 1903.

It was a longstanding ambition of the people of Kilrush to erect a monument to commemorate the memory of the Manchester Martyrs. William O’Meara Allen, Michael Larkin and William O Brien were executed in Salford, Manchester, for the successful rescue of a Fenian prisoner.

Their execution in 1867 sparked demonstrations and marches both in Ireland and the UK. It saw a rise in nationalism that culminated in the Easter Rising of 1916. The commissioning and erection of the monument was made possible through raising funds from the local population and the Irish diaspora in America.

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The monument is composed of a carved limestone statue of the Maid of Erin and her hound, sitting on top of a two-tier limestone pedestal. There are four marble plaques inset into each face of the pedestal. In 1921, the Maid of Erin statue was torn down by British Auxiliary forces.

This saw the iron bars to the western side of the railings being damaged as the statue fell on them, and the Maid of Erin’s hand was broken. This damage is still visible today, with the fabric of the monument bearing the scars of a turbulent past.

Kilrush is a town which values its heritage dearly. The repair and restoration of the Manchester Martyrs’ Monument is a further continuation of heritage-led works within the town centre from which the local and visiting community will greatly benefit. 

The monument is an important historic symbol and forms a backdrop to everyday life within Kilrush. The restoration works have safeguarded the future of this rich, artistic, and important cultural artefact.