A John Behan sculpture made in Kilmainham will be situated at the United Nations in New York.
The specially commissioned sculpture of a famine ship will be put in place on the grounds of the United Nations (UN) headquarters in New York.
Pieces of the sculpture have begun their journey from a foundry in Kilmainham in Dublin to New York, where they will be reasssembled. The centrepiece of the sculpture is a replica emigrant ship, designed by Galway based artist John Behan. The work was commissioned by the Office of Public Works.
The grounds of the United Nations headquarters have featured the work of artists from around the world.
Earlier this month, Minister of State Martin Cullen and architect Mary McKenna visited New York to meet UN officials to discuss 'Arrival', the 27 foot high bronze sculpture, that will be put in place at the UN headquarters. Martin Cullen says the sculpture represents the arrival of the Irish people to the various nations of the world and the contribution they have made in those countries. It is a representation of hundreds of years of Irish emigration. Mary McKenna says the sculpture will sit on natural stone, which will blend in well with the natural surroundings.
The Arrival sculpture is due to be installed in New York in early September and unveiled in November at a ceremony hosted by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan and Taoiseach Bertie Ahern.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 28 July 2000. The reporter is Mark Little.
