Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council has said the well-known 'Christ the King' statue by Irish-American sculptor Andrew O'Connor has been restored and is to return to its site in the area.

The sculpture had been removed in May 2012 in order to allow construction work to be carried out at the Central Library and Cultural Centre in Moran Park. Since then, it has been part of a restoration project by Brendan Watters.

Originally, the selection criteria for the site was that there should be an uninterrupted view of the monument for ships entering and leaving the harbour, as well as those travelling across the bay. It was also said that there should be easy approach to those who wished to visit the site on land.

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The local authority has said the sculpture will now be installed at the western end of Moran Park, in a spot of equal prominence to its previous location. It will also be placed at the same height above ground level.

The statue, the "Triple Cross" of Christ the King, which symbolises the three distinct aspects of Christ's life – Desolation, Consolation and Triumph – has been standing 18 feet high as a major landmark for the town, since it was formally unveiled in 1978. It has been cleaned and re-waxed to enhance the sculpture visually, making the modelling and contours of the figure clearer, and will also help to slow down the oxidisation process and protect the bronze surface.

As for the Central Library & Cultural Centre in Dún Laoghaire, is the most significant piece of public infrastructure in the County for more than 100 years and is the single largest investment by the Council in a civic amenity. The venue aims to provide a key community space for the area and will include exhibition and performance spaces that will be made available to local artists and performers to showcase their work.

Moran Park is also being extensively landscaped and redeveloped as part of the Central Library & Cultural Centre works. A new water feature will be an key element of the park, while the gardens will host events, exhibits, film screenings, markets and performances.

(JP/IT)