Administered by City of Worcester Parks, Recreation, and Cemetery Department 125 Green Hill Parkway Worcester Massachusetts 01605
Located Worcester Common Worcester Massachusetts
Date:
Dedicated Sept. 18, 1977
Notes:
Beall, Pamela E., "Artworks in Our Parks: An Inventory of Public Memorials," Worcester, MA: City of Worcester, 1986.
Save Outdoor Sculpture, Massachusetts survey, 1994.
Image on file.
Beall, Pamela E., "Artworks in Our Parks: An Inventory of Public Memorials," Worcester, MA: City of Worcester, 1986, pg. 22.
(On sculpture:) BARRE GUILD (On base:) BARRE GUILD (On front of base:) COMMEMORATING THE 150TH/ANNIVERSARY OF THE FIRST/PERMANENT SETTLEMENT OF/THE IRISH COMMUNITY/IN WORCESTER/1826-1976 (Gaelic translation) (On back of cross:) WORCESTER BECAME A/CITY THROUGH THE/EFFORTS OF PEOPLE/FROM ALL PARTS/OF THE WORLD./EMIGRANTS FROM/IRELAND HELPED BEGIN/THIS DEVELOPMENT./THEY FIRST ARRIVED/IN 1718 AND ASSURED/THE TOWN'S SURVIVAL/AS A SETTLEMENT./IN 1826 THE COMING/OF IRISH CANAL-BUILDERS/BEGAN WORCESTER'S/FIRST ETHNIC COMMUNITY./THIS MEMORIAL IS DEDICATED TO THESE/PIONEER IRISH AND ALL/WORCESTER RESIDENTS/OF IRISH DESCENT. (On back of base:) WORCESTER IRISH MEMORIAL COMMITTEE unsigned
The information provided about this artwork was compiled as part of the Smithsonian American Art Museum's Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture database, designed to provide descriptive and location information on artworks by American artists in public and private collections worldwide.
Summary:
A large Celtic cross carved with relief panels depicting scenes of Ireland and Irish symbols. On the upper front of the cross is a shamrock surrounded by four crests, one for each of the four provinces of Ireland. Down the front vertical part of the cross are carvings of: a pastoral scene depicting the Tower of Ardmore in County Waterford and a wolfhound; St. Bridget's Cross in rush; a sailing ship; the Claddagh Ring; a scene of men digging Blackstone canal; an endless knot; crossed American and Irish flags; an eagle perched on a arrows and an olive branch.
On the upper back of the cross is a shamrock surrounded by four crests, one for each of the four provinces of Ireland. Down the back vertical part of the cross are: a pastoral scene with thatched roof cottages; three small shields (AOH, tara brooch, KOC); Christ's Church on Temple Street; a motif of tools (pick, shovel, mallet, trowel, saw, chisel) and a section of railroad track; left: county names in a continuous ribbon and a map of Ireland; right: county names and an 1829 map of Worcester noting the Canal Basio, Scalpintown, the Meadows, Dungarvan Hill, and Christ's Church.