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The Anna Livia sculpture about to begin her journey to her new home.
new home

Anna Livia monument floats to a new home

After ten years hidden away in Raheny, the Anna Livia statue has found a new home in Dublin.

SHE HAS BEEN given some colourful nicknames – like the ‘floozie in the Jacuzzi’ – so what will she be called now she has moved to a park?

The beautiful 18ft-long bronze Anna Livia monument was once at home on O’Connell St, but has spent the past decade in a crate in Raheny.

The sculpture, created by Eamonn O’Doherty, was designed to mark Dublin’s 1988 millennium and situated at O’Connell St. In 2001, the decision was taken to remove her to make way for the Spire.

However yesterday, after a little refurbishment, Anna Livia was ready to journey to her new – and final – home.

Gerry Barry, parks superintendent with Dublin City Council, told TheJournal.ie:

With the regeneration of O’Connell St she didn’t fit in with the plan for the new street with the plaza and the spire. She spent some time in a crate in St Anne’s Park. It was always our intention to relocate her and it finally came to fruition yesterday.

The council spoke to the sculptor Eamonn O’Doherty about moving her to the Croppy Acre memorial park on Dublin’s north quays, and he agreed it was a suitable location.

The bronze monument was taken on a special journey to her new home. “We floated her down the Liffey. We could have brought her in a truck but given all the circumstances the sculptor made the suggestion in a slightly offhand manner,” said Gerry. This small idea turned into a reality when the organisers got in touch with Ringsend Boat Club, who were more than happy to bring Anna Livia to her new home.

We brought her down the river at lunchtime, so that people were able to see her. We thought it was appropriate that on her last journey she would float down the middle of the city. It gave it a sense of occasion.

Gerry added that he wouldn’t be surprised if her new location lent itself to another nickname, joking: “Dublin people have a knack for coming up with these sorts of names!”

Anna Livia monument floats to a new home
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  • New home for Anna Livia

  • New home for Anna Livia

    The Anna Livia statue begins the trip by barge down the Liffey that she is named for to her new home at the Croppy Acre.