The Irish Examiner -- Ireland

Stars invited to Harris statue unveiling

11 August 2006

© Irish Examiner, 2006. Thomas Crosbie Media, TCH

A HOST of Hollywood movie stars have been invited to Kilkee for the unveiling of a statue to celebrate the late actor, Richard Harris.

Actors Russell Crowe, Pierce Brosnan, Brad Pitt, Danny de Vito and Peter O’Toole are among those invited.

Clare County Council yesterday granted planning permission for the statue in spite of opposition from residents in the west Clare resort.

Project director for the plan, Manuel di Lucia said yesterday the statue commemorating Harris will be erected for an unveiling ceremony on September 30 next irrespective as to whether or not an appeal is lodged to An Bord Pleanála by local objectors.

Usually, a ruling by An Bord Pleanála would take four months to be delivered and Mr di Lucia said: "We are absolutely delighted with the decision. Hopefully, they won’t appeal, but it is pointless appealing as it is a fait accompli because the Bord will uphold the decision of the council."

Mr di Lucia said invites for the September unveiling have already gone out to the Hollywood stars.

Mr di Lucia confirmed that over €30,000 of the €42,000 budget for the project has already been raised with former Taoiseach, Albert Reynolds contributing €1,000.

Mr di Lucia said: "Along with the cheque, Mr Reynolds wrote ‘we hope to see you on the day’ so it is a day that everyone is looking forward to in Kilkee."

The statue is to be placed in the Wellington Square area of Kilkee and is to depict Harris playing racquet ball in memory of the Limerick man winning a racquet ball competition four times in-a-row in the west Clare resort.

The twice-Oscar nominated actor and star of Gladiator and The Field has strong associations with Kilkee and Richard Harris’s three sons have confirmed that they will contribute €21,000 to the project. [ed note: Not sure about the wording of this paragrah, but it seems to read that Russell will contribute funds]

Mr di Lucia said that Mr Harris’s sons will be present for the unveiling of the statue by local sculptor, Seamus Connolly.

In all, the proposal resulted in five objections.

Meanwhile after months of debate, Limerick City Council has commissioned a life size statue of Harris. West Clare sculptor, Joe Connolly has been given the task.

The Mayor of Limerick, Cllr Joe Leddin said it will take about six months to complete.

The statue will be erected in the pedestrianised Bedford Row.

The city council have been criticised for not honouring Harris with the Freedom of the City when he was alive.

Thanks, Misha