THE CORK CITY councillor who put up a reward for information about a missing fountain says that searches will take place over the weekend.

Fianna Fáil’s Kenneth O’Flynn appeared on Cork’s Red FM on Tuesday appealing for information about the Dunscombe Fountain, which had been at the end of the city’s Shandon Street.

It was removed in the early 20th century, according to Cork Past and Present. It was replaced by another fountain in time for the Cork 800 celebrations, which took place in 1985. This fountain was removed in 2003 before the area was remodelled under the Shandon renewal scheme.

O’Flynn was asked by radio host Neil Prendeville to probe the council on the whereabouts of the Dunscombe fountain, which was first installed in the late 1600s in Brown’s Square beside the North Main Bridge.

He was told at Monday’s council meeting that:

The historical records suggest that the structure was removed from the street sometime before the 1980s. Another fountain was installed in Brown’s Square as part of the Cork 800 celebrations. This structure was subsequently removed in 2003 as part of the Shandon Street Renewal Project.

However the current whereabouts of the fountain, and its distinctive gas light, are currently unknown.

Reward

Shutterstock / Stephen Long Shutterstock / Stephen Long / Stephen Long

O’Flynn and Prendeville, along with two others, each put up €100 as a reward for information about the location of the fountain.

O’Flynn told TheJournal.ie that there has been a massive response to the appeal.

We’ve had a tremendous amount of claims and emails from members of the public – former employees of contractors, of Cork City Council. I’ve had 63 emails and my phone hasn’t stopped. Neither has the phone in Red FM.

“I can’t say much as to where it is, but it’s not on the northside of the city. We will be using drone technology over the weekend.”

O’Flynn said that the Dunscombes were a merchant family in Cork who gifted the fountain to the city.

He says that the council’s inability to tell him where the fountain is now is unacceptable.

It seems like there is a completely inaccurate inventory of our historical sculptures in Cork. People have been contacting us about other things like sculptures, cannons and lighting.

While O’Flynn accepts that the issue may sound humourous, it is no laughing matter.

The council response showed the blasé and cavalier attitude towards the historical artefacts of this city.

“It raises questions about governance of city.

“If we haven’t been keeping stock control, we have to examine questions about this.

It may come across as something funny, but the management shouldn’t be cavalier about it.

O’Flynn said a drone would be used to search for the fountain this weekend.

Cork City Council did not respond to a request for comment.

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