Tuesday Treasures Anna Livia

Pictorial Tuesday   Tom hosts Tuesday's Treasures.

September 2015 - Dublin Ireland


As part of Dublin's plans for the 1988 millennium a new bronze monument was commissioned by businessman Michael Smurfit in memory of his father at a cost £200,000 and to be situated on O'Connell St.


Sculptor Eamonn O’Doherty was commissioned to create the statue. The statue was inspired by James Joyce’s character Anna Livia Plurabelle, who featured in Finnegan’s Wake as a personification of the River Liffey that flows through Dublin.

During our 2001 visit we took this photo, and I must say I wasn't very impressed by her, she was quite scary looking  though I did like her nicknames.
Dubs MUST apply nicknames so she became known as the Floozy in the Jacuzzi and The Hoor in the Sewer. 

In February 2010, after consulting with the artist Eamonn O’Doherty, a decision was made to relocate the Anna Livia sculpture to the Croppies Acre Memorial Park by the Dublin City Council. This site forms part a burial ground for the fallen of the 1798 Rebellion.

  The beautiful 5.5metre bronze casting of the Anna Livia figure, which reclined in that granite fountain on O’Connell Street, was re-erected at the Croppies 'Acre site. Having been refurbished, Anna Livia was ready to journey to her new home. The bronze monument was taken on a special journey as she was floated down the Liffey, she could have been brought by truck but given all the circumstances the sculptor made the suggestion to take her by river to the new site.

She was paraded down the Liffey at lunchtime, so that people were able to see her. It was appropriate that on her last journey she would float down the middle of the city. 

Anna Livia lies in a purpose-built pond in accordance with the sculptor's wishes, he insisted she be located near the Liffey and in water. Mr. O'Doherty also made some adjustments as she is now in a more reclining position to better suit her new location.

In 2015 we stayed in the hotel opposite the park and I was aware that Anna Livia was close by. But imagine my excitement (yes, I know it doesn't take much) that I spotted her as soon as I looked out our window.

I think she looks much better in this location, much more fitting.

Source for the background.