Famed sculptor plans largest St. Patrick statue in the world for County Mayo
Canadian artist wants a 100 foot tall Croagh Patrick statue as a gift from the U.S.
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IrishCentral Editor
Published Saturday, February 9, 2013, 8:00 AM
Updated Saturday, February 9, 2013, 8:00 AM
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Timothy Schmalz's statue of St. Patrick at Our Lady's shrine in Knock, Mayo
Photo by Timothy Schmalz
“As I stood on Croagh Patrick I thought “Yes, this is it. Over there across the Atlantic is America.” And I thought to myself “Wouldn’t it be amazing to connect to two countries. To have the statue as a thank you from America for all of the culture and as an icon of Christianity standing tall and proud facing the United States.””
For Schmalz the Christian and cultural message the statue would promote is important to him but he also has a more business-minded reason for building the massive statue. It is his hope that like the Christ the Redeemer statue above Rio de Janeiro, in Brazil or like the Statue of Liberty in New York Ireland’s new St. Patrick statue could be a massive tourist attraction.
He explained, “One of my thoughts was that everyone in America hears about Ireland’s economic strain all the time so my idea was that it would be great to create another beautiful historic tourist attraction that just shouts out to the world “Here we are!”
Schmalz hopes that as news of his idea begins to spread, North Americans might become interested in the project and be tempted to sponsor it. He plans to surround the bronze statue with clovers engraved with the sponsors names.
Although he is still in the planning stages, including how the structure will be put together, Schmalz plans to have the statue erected by St. Patrick’s Day 2015.
Anyone interested in sponsoring this project can email Schmalz at tim[at]timschmalz.com.
PHOTOS - The statues of St. Patrick and St. Brigid by Timothy Schmalz - slideshow
27 Comments
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merefalow | Feb 12, 2013, 09:43 AM EST
priest ridden ireland,why dont you put a windmill there,but better still why cant you leave the landscape unspoilt,and there are a lot of people who dont want symbols of religion rammed down our throats,waste of time and money and a despoilment of the landscape.non.
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johnshiel | Feb 11, 2013, 09:13 AM EST
I've seen Croagh Patrick many times in photos... it is beautiful... how 'bout a little more respect for the landscape untrammeled...?
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RobinForester | Feb 10, 2013, 05:20 PM EST
From a brief Goggle search it appears that St Patrick lives on in legend (which is a nice way of saying he did not exist) he's noted for killing snakes that did not exist, whilst his counterpart in the UK, St George, killed the dragons that did not exist, here are the results of a 10 minute search, you can spot the discrepancies yourself.
(1) St. Patrick was born in Kilpatrick near Dumbarton in Scotland in the 387. His parents were Romans.
(2) The person who was to become St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, was born in Wales about AD 385. His given name was Maewyn.
(3 )St. Patrick was born in the late Fourth Century. His Father was Calpurnius, a Briton and a Deacon; his mother, Concess, was a Frank and a close relative of St. Martin of Tours. At sixteen years of age, St. Patrick and many others were kidnapped from the family estate near Bannavem Taburniae etc.
(4) Many of the traditions later attached to Saint Patrick actually concerned Palladius, who Prosper of Aquitaine's Chronicle says was sent by Pope Celestine I as the first bishop to Irish Christians in 431.
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mairint | Feb 10, 2013, 05:19 PM EST
A wonderful plan Timothy. I wish you success, and may it not take too long to get it rolling. Your Knock image looks very impressive and 'of the era'. I hope to see it this coming Summer when I visit 'home'. In the event you may read Irish Central please disregard the negative remarks. Unfortunately they are typical of the rather sick side of society - completely oozing hatred of Christianity and its Author. God Bless the project, may your plan come to fruition.
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SeamusMor | Feb 10, 2013, 03:54 PM EST
A thousand and some bureaucrats would have to agree to this before it could happen. A more realistic and timely project would be the erection of Pastor Terrell O'Brien's magnificent vision of a statue of Brian Boru before the Battle of Clontarf, to be unveiled in Dublin on the millennium of the Battle of Clontarf, 23rd. April, 2014!
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anglo-norman | Feb 10, 2013, 03:03 PM EST
WoundedKnee- You didn't answer my question son..
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WoundedKnee | Feb 10, 2013, 02:26 PM EST
Taiwanlight: Who's Maire Ni Holahan? Is that some chick you dated when you were younger?
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WoundedKnee | Feb 10, 2013, 02:24 PM EST
Anglo-norman: Are you in Ireland?
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anglo-norman | Feb 10, 2013, 02:11 PM EST
So woundedKnee do you believe this St Patrick guy banished all the snakes from Ireland?
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RedBranch | Feb 10, 2013, 01:29 PM EST
The only place for this sort of statue is Co.Down. Home to Patrick's grave, his first church and a host of other connections including his bathing house!
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Taiwanlight | Feb 10, 2013, 09:41 AM EST
Timothy - just a suggestion, find a secular symbol that won't cause a controversy and find another spot to put it on.
Suggestions Maire Ni Holahan, Oscar Wilde, George Best (he always referred to himself as an Irishman and could be a particularly good choice) or even - another smaller Statue of Liberty. Ignore the naysaying and begrudgery and the calls of 'plastic paddy' from the small minded West Britons and Gombeens (Ireland is a mass of contradictions as you'll soon find out though I still love the place, God knows why) and plough (or plow) ahead.
You'll have taken another small step for Irish Liberation (in this case, of the mind) and ten years into the future it'll be a source of pride and affection for the locals. For God's sake, keep away from religious themes and places (no pun intended) in Ireland. No good has ever come of it as you can see from the previous comments. Cead Mile Failte buddy.
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Taiwanlight | Feb 10, 2013, 07:27 AM EST
Timothy - just a suggestion, find a secular symbol that won't cause a controversy and find another spot to put it on.
Suggestions Maire Ni Holahan, Oscar Wilde, George Best (he always referred to himself as an Irishman and could be a particularly good choice) or even - another smaller Statue of Liberty. Ignore the naysaying and begrudgery and the calls of 'plastic paddy' from the small minded West Britons and Gombeens (Ireland is a mass of contradictions as you'll soon find out though I still love the place, God knows why) and plough (or plow) ahead.
You'll have taken another small step for Irish Liberation (in this case, of the mind) and ten years into the future it'll be a source of pride and affection for the locals. For God's sake, keep away from religious themes and places (no pun intended) in Ireland. No good has ever come of it as you can see from the previous comments. Cead Mile Failte buddy.
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RobinForester | Feb 10, 2013, 05:33 AM EST
Anglo-Norman, Respect. I spent 3 years in the States as a sales representative and met many wonderful people and some even more wonderful religious freaks, the saddest being the man who was dying from C who told me in all seriousness "Would his relations who'd passed on be told he when he was arriving and would they be at the Pearly Gates to meet him", at first I was sure he was having his little joke but he wasn't. In the 1970s I worked in the UK Health Service and it was sad the number of people who before killing themselves (or as so often happens injuring themselves) (who) leave pathetic little notes saying their 'going to a better place. From this I want you to understand, which I'm certain you do, that 20% of our western population believe in St Patrick, believe he banished the snakes (close your eyes and imagine your an Irish snake and you're told you're going to be banished, then move your thoughts to an Irish dockside and there's a long line of Irish snakes carrying small suitcases awaiting to go aboard a cattle boat to England) and this is a fact of life. I think it's called the opium of the masses, but not being an opium thinker, more the debaunched kind, I wouldn't know. The Statue I hope will go ahead but surely it should be 200 foot high, one hand raised facing America, with the words inscribed on the base "We Love you Brother".
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anglo-norman | Feb 10, 2013, 02:38 AM EST
Hordes of half-wits climbing up a mountain barefoot to worship a statue of someone who most likely did not exist anyways. Makes sense to me...
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