The world of Irish arts has lost one of its most prominent figures with the death last week of sculptor Eamonn O'Doherty.
O'Doherty passed away in St. Luke's Hospital Dublin after a long battle with throat cancer. He was 72.
While the Derry-born O'Doherty was the artistic hand behind some of the best-known and loved works of public art in Ireland, including the Quincentennial Sculpture in Galway's Eyre Square, the James Connolly Memorial across from Dublin's Liberty Hall, and the Anna Livia fountain in Dublin - the famed "Floozie In The Jacuzzi" - his work is also to be found in the U.S., most notably in Westchester County where his bronze interpretation of the tragedy that was the Great Hunger is to be found in the Westchester County Great Hunger Memorial at V.E. Macy Park between the Hudson River towns of Ardsley and Irvington.
"I am truly saddened by the loss of my good friend, Eamonn O'Doherty," said Westchester businessman James Houlihan, the main driving force behind the memorial which recently marked its tenth anniversary.
"Eamonn and I became friendly during the conceptualization and creation of the Great Hunger Memorial in Westchester County. Eamonn was chosen from a broad range of international sculptors and artists who submitted proposals in 1998. He was absolutely the right man at the right time. He did a wonderful job. His creation was hailed by the New York Times art critic Dominic Colusuano as 'a great work,'" said Houlihan.
"The monument is beautiful, moving, and is located in a scenic setting in a section of V.E. Macy Park along the Saw Mill River Parkway in Ardsley. That section of the park was renamed An Gorta Mór Park in honor of Eamonn's sculpture which overlooks Woodland Lake.
"Eamonn created many renowned works of public art in Europe, Ireland, Northern Ireland, and the United States. He was outspoken in his beliefs and fearless in championing a cause. He will be greatly missed. He was a wonderful artist and a beautiful man," Houlihan said.
