PHOTOS - The statues of St. Patrick and St. Brigid by Timothy Schmalz - slideshow
A Canadian sculptor plans to erect a bronze statue of Saint Patrick, over 100 feet in height, at the top of Croagh Patrick, in Mayo. The idea is that the giant representation of the patron saint of Ireland will be a gift to the Irish people from the people of North America.
Timothy Schmalz has recently finished a statue of St. Brigid for her home county of Kildare, and is also responsible for the largest statue of St. Patrick in existence in Ireland, at Our Lady of Knock, in Mayo. However, this statue is just a little larger than life-sized.
Schmalz, who focuses his work on Christian themes, said he couldn’t believe something like this had not been thought of before. Living and working from his studio in China, he was struck by the scale of the sculpture he has witnessed across Asia.
He told IrishCentral, “The Asians create such massive Buddhas, they make my jaw drop, and I just thought “Why aren’t we doing something like that here?”
“I just can’t believe that no one has thought of doing this before”
The sculptor compares his idea of the Statue of Liberty, which was gifted by the people of France to the people of America in 1886. The robed figure looking out from New York’s harbor is a symbol of freedom and a beacon to immigrants reaching America’s shores. Schmalz’s idea is that this giant statue of St. Patrick should be similar.
Although Schmalz has already established sponsorship for the statue he wants this gift to the Irish people to be paid for by the North American people, rather than the government.
He told IrishCentral, “I was always excited about the idea that the Statue of Liberty was given as a gift by the people of France to the people of America, and for the people that know this small fact it adds an extra dimension to the statue.”
PHOTOS - The statues of St. Patrick and St. Brigid by Timothy Schmalz - slideshow
When Schmalz began to seriously consider the logistics and technicalities of this giant 100 foot tall statue he had to figure out where it would be erected.
He said “There was only one location it could go...Croagh Patrick.”
It is believed St. Patrick spent 40 days fasting on the summit of the mountain and built a church there, in the 5th century. Legend has it that he threw a silver bell down the hill knocking the demon Corra from the sky and banishing snakes from Ireland.
Schmalz said when he visited Croagh Patrick he knew this was the right spot. He told IrishCentral, “If there’s any more beautiful place in the world I don’t know of it.
“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
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.imokyrok | Mar 18, 2013, 01:42 PM EDT
I've just seen a picture of this proposed 100 ft sculpture and HOLY MARY MOTHER OF GAWD! A bit of Oirish kitsch oh your head for Paddys Day - a bit of craic. 100ft of it on top of a mountain overlooking Clew Bay - not so much. An early April Fools joke - has to be.
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.
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...?
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.
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.
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!
anglo-norman | Feb 10, 2013, 03:03 PM EST
WoundedKnee- You didn't answer my question son..
WoundedKnee | Feb 10, 2013, 02:26 PM EST
Taiwanlight: Who's Maire Ni Holahan? Is that some chick you dated when you were younger?
WoundedKnee | Feb 10, 2013, 02:24 PM EST
Anglo-norman: Are you in Ireland?
anglo-norman | Feb 10, 2013, 02:11 PM EST
So woundedKnee do you believe this St Patrick guy banished all the snakes from Ireland?
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!
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.
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.
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".
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...
fromGort | Feb 09, 2013, 09:38 PM EST
Croagh Patrick should be left as is. It doesn't need to be hyped with an giant statue and the accompanying 'tourist trap' trappings that would eventually come with it. Probably including a road or tram to to top for the comfort of the non-religious. It is a place of pilgramage. Not a must see tourist spot like Blarney Castle.
canadianirish | Feb 09, 2013, 08:38 PM EST
What a truly lovely gesture, Timothy. Before embarking on this massive project, perhaps you could put this idea to a vote on any one of a number of social media sites. Judging from the posters here, your sculpture would not be welcomed in Ireland.
falconflash | Feb 09, 2013, 08:33 PM EST
One of the great figures in world history....there would be no Irish race today without Patrick...religion = culture.
olovely | Feb 09, 2013, 06:10 PM EST
It's hideous. So no.
jacersagain | Feb 09, 2013, 05:26 PM EST
I agree with the posters below… this commission should be decommissioned forthwith. The simple tiny shamrock of Ireland does its job, everyday, for St. Patrick.
Rebelforce | Feb 09, 2013, 03:42 PM EST
REALITY CHECK: Probably the last thing St Patrick would have desired would be for a 100 ft bronze statue of himself erected atop a mountain in Ireland.
arleahnna | Feb 09, 2013, 02:43 PM EST
What DO the Irish think of this? I'm thinking Way Too Big . . a monstrosity!
Rebelforce | Feb 09, 2013, 01:34 PM EST
Looks like 'Hagar the Horrible' holding a shamrock. If this guy wants to help the Irish people with a gift let him donate money to pay off the Anglo-Irish debt.
Joe Kelsall | Feb 09, 2013, 01:08 PM EST
The USA was France's second choice for the statue of liberty. The original plinth for this statue still exists at the head of the Suez Canal. The Egyptians refused it.
WoundedKnee | Feb 09, 2013, 10:58 AM EST
"That statue looks more like a Viking"... EllenfromCork, how do you know what St Patrick looked like?
bunkerisland | Feb 09, 2013, 10:54 AM EST
Enough already! Leave the mountain top alone. We have St.Patrick all over the island. This is more about the sculptor than it is about the subject and I agree with Ellen that the carving is more Viking warrior than humble saint!
ellenfromcork | Feb 09, 2013, 10:23 AM EST
That statue looks more like a Viking berserker than "the dear saint of our isle"