Press release
Hidden Gem revealed once more in the Heart of the City
Published on
Last updated on
Published on
Last updated on
Today, the Office of Public Works is delighted to announce the reopening of the William Butler Yeats Memorial in St Stephens Green Park, following an extensive programme of conservation works including the rejuvenation of ‘Knife Edge’ a sculpture by the internationally renowned sculpture Henry Moore.
While visiting the Yeats Memorial, Mr. Patrick O’ Donovan, Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works stated:
"St Stephens Green has over four and a half million visitors annually and this restored memorial area will offer the public a place to quietly contemplate and reflect on Yeats works. It’s wonderful to see the quality of workmanship involved in the conservation of this unique area within St Stephens Green, by the Office of Public Works and specialist craftspeople."
The W.B. Yeats Memorial is situated in an area known as the “Mount”, being a series of irregular terraces, forming an amphitheatre within the park. The creation of the amphitheatre was intentional; to provide an area in the Green that can be used for quiet contemplation or theatre, in the round and oration, reflecting Yeats’ work as a poet & playwright, as much as an informal place for people to gather. It remains today a much loved place, regarded by many as their own shared secret place among the trees.
The sculpture was donated by the W.B. Yeats Memorial Committee and funded by Irish American Philanthropist Mr. J. Kelly and Córas Tráchtála Teoranta. The Committee, who made a formal application to the Office of Public Works to place the proposed memorial in St Stephens Green, as "it was one of Yeats' favourite haunts."
The location of the sculpture was specifically chosen for the attractive views of the lake and waterfall obtained from the setting, which was terraced and paved by the Office of Public Works at the time. It has been cited as one of the finest settings for Henry Moore's 'Knife Edge' by such eminent bodies as the Henry Moore Foundation.
Set onto the terrace in front of the sculpture is a plaque giving the sculpture its context as part of the Memorial. This was created by esteemed Sculptor Michael Biggs, the prominent sculptor and graphic designer responsible for the Arbour Hill Memorial Wall and the Series B Irish Banknotes (circulation 1976-1992).
On October 26th 1967, the W.B. Yeats Memorial was unveiled by the Taoiseach, Mr. Jack Lynch. The recent works included; repair and re-laying of pavements, steps and terraces; conservation of bronze sculpture and plaque; and installation of handrails to improve accessibility to the W.B. Yeats Memorial.
ENDS
St Stephen’s Green was originally a marshy common on the edge of Dublin city which takes its name from a local Medieval Church and Leper Hospital in the vicinity. It once formed part of an area extending as far as the banks of the Dodder, which was granted to Dublin Corporation by King Henry II in 1154.
In 1635 the City Assembly passed an ordinance:
"That no parcel of St Stephen's Greene shall henceforth be lett, but wholie kepte for the use of the citizens and others to walke and take the open aire, by reason this cittie is at present groweing very populous."
In 1663 the City Assembly decided to develop Saint Stephen’s Green, then about 60 acres, in such a way that it would provide income for the city, while still serving the people as an open space.
"The History & Antiquities of the City of Dublin" by Harris in 1766, describes St Stephen's Green as the largest square in Europe in which the outer walks are gravelled.
Lewis's "Dublin Guide" of 1787 describes the Green in the following terms:
"In the walks may be seen a great refort of company; The Beau-walk in particular, being considered in the same light here, as the Mall in St James Park London, the scene of elegance & taste."
In 1814 an Act of Parliament was obtained for the improvement of the Green. Under the Act, Commissioners representing the local householders were appointed as key holders.
St Stephens Green remained private until Sir Arthur Guinness, later Lord Ardilaun, took a personal interest and offered to restore the Green as a public Park at his own expense. Following the St Stephens Green Act of 1877, which entrusted the maintenance of the Green to the Commissioners of Public Works, he paid off the key holder debts of £2,000 and spent a further £20,000 redeveloping the Green.
On 27 July 1880 the transformed St Stephen’s Green was re-opened without formality, to the public.
The 49th Annual Report of the Board of Works, 1880-1881, made the following observations:
"The Walks, Ride, Shrubberies & Plantation have been maintained during the year but from the crowds which frequent the park it is extremely difficult to maintain the grass surfaces."
During the Easter Rising of 1916, the Green was occupied by soldiers of the Irish Citizens Army and Irish Volunteers, who dug trenches inside the railings. The wounded were treated in the glasshouses, which were located in the area, now known as the ‘W.B. Yeats Memorial’.
A video of the unveiling of ‘Knife Edge’ is available on the RTÉ Archives: www.rte.ie/archive/wbyeats.
A video of the redevelopment from Philip Bromwell, RTÉ: