Restored Limerick park feature will be a fountain of knowledge
IN 150 years time people in Limerick will discover what was making the news locally and nationally in 2009, as a sealed time capsule has been placed in a renovated fountain in the People's Park.
The Limerick Civic Trust initiative, which has been supported by Limerick City Council, saw the front page of this Wednesday's Irish Times, as well as a copy of the Limerick Leader, enclosed in the capsule.
Other items include the annual report of Limerick Civic Trust, as well as press cuttings and photographs relating to their work.
Gabrielle Wallace, the trust's first female chair, said she hoped her descendants will discover the capsule in years to come.
"I find it very exciting that the fountain is coming back to Limerick fully restored. I really love the idea of the capsule because there is so much history attached to the park itself," said Ms Wallace.
The fountain was erected in 1877 in honour of Richard Russell, a highly regarded employer in Limerick.
An exact date to remove the capsule has not been confirmed, but the trust believes that the fountain may need to be restored in another 150 years.
When the original columns were removed they discovered some old coins, which may have been placed there intentionally, and hence decided to leave a remnant of the past for future generations.
It had been mooted to paint the fountain white and green, in the colours of the trust, but when layers of paint were peeled back it was discovered that it was originally painted red, and thet trust chose to remain with that colour.
Ms Wallace said credit must be given to Denis Leonard, trust director, for spearheading the plans,. He was unable to attend the event in the People's Park this Wednesday afternoon.
For the past seven months, a British conservation company, Eura Conservation, has been working on restoring the Richard Russell fountain to its former glory at a cost of approximately €80,000.
There are only two of these unique fountains in Ireland, with the Belfast model used as an example in restoring the Limerick version.
Both structures were made by the Sun Foundry in Glasgow by George Smith & Co Ltd, and the castings were considered to be the finest available at the time.
The fountain will be officially opened on November 6 by the Mayor Kevin Kiely at 11.30am.
To coincide with the return of the fountain, a nine-minute documentary will run in the Georgian House, Pery Square, from October 22 to October 30. The film includes footage of the fountain being dismantled, along with the intricate restoration in Britain. Phone 061-313399 for further enquiries, and booking is advi
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Weather for Limerick
Tuesday 22 May 2012
Today
Light rain
Temperature: 13 C to 19 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 12 C to 19 C
Wind Speed: 21 mph
Wind direction: South east
