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Mayor Looney to officially open the Seán Keating Garden at Rathfarnham Castle Park

Mayor Looney to officially open the Seán Keating Garden at Rathfarnham Castle Park

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26/07/2013

Archived item. This item is published here for historical reasons. The information below may be out of date.

Mayor Looney to officially open the Seán Keating Garden at Rathfarnham Castle Park

On Tuesday, the 30th July at 4pm, the Mayor of South Dublin County Council, Councillor Dermot Looney will unveil a plaque to commemorate the opening of the new Seán Keating Garden in the grounds of Rathfarnham Castle Park.

Mayor Looney commented “I am delighted that the garden will be named in honour of one of Ireland’s most iconic artists. I would particularly like to thank Cllr. Paddy Cosgrave, the Chairperson and members of the Rathfarnham Area Committee for suggesting that the council name this garden in memory of Seán Keating. I would also like to acknowledge the support received from the members of the extended Keating Family who will be present at the official opening. Seán Keating resided locally here in the Rathfarnham area and it is appropriate that the garden is named after him for both the local connection but also for the combination of history, art and landscape that we find here in the grounds of Rathfarnham Castle Park. These themes were strongly embedded in the life and work of Seán Keating the artist.”

The garden is located in what remains of the grounds of Rathfarnham Castle demesne and within view of the splendid Rathfarnham Castle, a National Historic monument now under the care of the Office of Public Works. The OPW are currently implementing a programme of restoration fitting for a structure that has been part of our local and national history since the middle of the 16th Century.

This new garden is modern in design and contrasts with the older Castle. The design reflects the modernising of Ireland whilst respecting the Ireland of the past as well as the historic location within which it is located. The garden is a restful place with water and plants and stone from both modern and older times combining to provide an oasis in a busy world. A strong focus for the garden has been on setting a new standard for access, through the inclusion of many accessibility features throughout the garden.

As part of the recent Villages Initiative, South Dublin County Council has allocated funds for the development of designated villages within the county. The primary purpose of this fund is to drive initiatives which would result in an increase in footfall in the villages and thus drive economic development in the retail and tourism sectors in particular. Work with village based groups like the Rathfarnham Tidy Towns Committee has been on-going and the construction of this ornamental garden by South Dublin County Council is another positive step in the upgrading of the fabric of the Rathfarnham Castle landscape and nearby Rathfarnham Village with a particular focus on Walking Routes, Heritage Buildings/Features and Public Realm Focal Points.

Mayor Looney concluded by saying “I hope users of the Seán Keating garden space will enjoy this pleasant and calming area in this historic setting of Rathfarnham for years to come."

Note to Editor

Seán Keating (1889-1977) is one of Ireland's iconic artists. He was a member and former President of the Royal Hibernian Academy of Art, and his professional life spanned seventy years during which time he was renowned at home and abroad for his ability to paint forceful images that were at once emblematic of his own cultural and political nationalism and analogous to that of the nation at large. He lived for many years in Rathfarnham and is buried in Cruagh cemetery. A mural by the artist can be seen in the Church of the Holy Spirit, Ballyroan. A new book 'Art, Politics and Building the Nation' by Dr Eimear O'Connor offers a new perspective on his life and work. Dr O'Connor has agreed to deliver a talk on Keating in Ballyroan Library in the autumn of 2013.

There is a location within the garden for a nameplate which will be in Irish and English. Consideration will also be given to the installation of an information plaque in relation to Seán Keating and his work.

Images

  • Image of Garden
    Image of Garden
  • Mayor Looney, Cllr Paddy Cosgrave pictured with FAS Trainees
    Mayor Looney, Cllr Paddy Cosgrave pictured with FAS Trainees
  • Mayoy Dermot Looney SDCC, Cllr Paddy Cosgrave, Cllr John Lahart and members of the extended Keating family
    Mayoy Dermot Looney SDCC, Cllr Paddy Cosgrave, Cllr John Lahart and members of the extended Keating family
  • Sean Keating Park
    Sean Keating Park
  • Tomas Tagle, great, great grandson of Sean Keating
    Tomas Tagle, great, great grandson of Sean Keating