Artwork along the Copper Coast

In 2003, the Copper Coast Geopark joined efforts with 3 other European
Geoparks: Marble Arch Caves, in Co. Fermanagh, Vulkaneifel and Bergstrasse
Odenwald in Germany, in order to apply for InterReg IIIB funding, which they
were successfully granted in early 2004.

Artworks were part of the application for the Copper Coast Geopark. A
sculpture and a series of tables and seats. After an application process,
four artists were awarded the commissions described below.

Ice, Fire and Water Sculpture,
by Colette O'Brien

This sculpture was commissioned to illustrate the common geological theme
to the four Geoparks: “Ice, Fire and Water”.

Fire for the volcanism (Copper Coast, Vulkaneifel), Water for the sea (Copper
Coast), lakes (Vulkaneifel,Bergstrasse), cave system(Marble Arch) and Ice for
the Ice Age that shaped the modern landscape of all geoparks.

Colette O’Brien, mosaic artist, based in Kilkenny, was awarded the commission. The piece itself is a massive piece of limestone. She shaped it, then carved various areas and glued some mosaic material called "smalti tessarae” on it. Location: Boatstrand car park, overlooking Dunabrattin Head.

Tables and seats,
by Ivan & Marcel Twohig and John O'Connor

The Copper Coast Geopark commissioned several artists to produce a series
of tables and seats for the different local communities along the coast.

The Twohig brothers, based in Dublin, designed and produced 5 tables and
seats made of limestone slabs with the inclusion of coloured rocks and copper
sheet to illustrate the different part of the coastline where the pieces would be
installed.

Detail of one of the top table design

The table and seats in the Geological Garden, Bunmahon

Locations: Stradbally Cove, Bunmahon Geological Garden, Annestown beach
(next to the lime kiln), Dunhill (on the greens of the Multi-Education Centre).

John O'Connor, based in Waterford, designed and produced 1 set of table and
seats for the bog in Fenor. The set consists of limestone blocks with different
illustrations of the local fauna, flora and geology on each facet of the blocks.

The blocks installed at the entrance of the bog

Location: Fenor bog (entrance, to the left).