Public Artwork of Patrick Rankin Unveiled

A sculpture of Newry man Patrick Rankin was unveiled at Dublin Bridge, Newry on Thursday 22 December 2016 as part of Newry, Mourne and Down District Council’s Decade of Centenaries Programme.

The artwork is the creation of Barry Linnane a sculptor whose public pieces can be seen the length and breadth of Ireland.

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson Councillor Gillian Fitzpatrick said,

“This artwork is in recognition of Patrick Rankin, the only Newry person who quite literally got on his bike and cycled 70 miles to Dublin to take part in the 1916 Easter Rising. While we may all share the same history on the island of Ireland, we have different experiences and interpretations of it.  I believe the unveiling today will play its part in helping us all explore and re-examine our history”.

Councillor Fitzpatrick continued, “I would like to thank everyone who has helped this project come to fruition, and in particular, all the Rankin family members who have taken the time to attend this unveiling. This lasting tribute to Patrick Rankin has been an appropriate way to bring to a close the Council’s very successful 2016 Decade of Centenaries Programme”

At the reception, Dr Éamon Phoenix delivered an historical talk on ‘Patrick Rankin, the North and the 1916 Easter Rising’, and Barry Linnane presented a maquette of the artwork to Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson Councillor Gillian Fitzpatrick and Newry & Mourne Museum Curator, Noreen Cunningham.