APRIL 2007

Maritime Monument for Moville

Artists across Europe are hopeful they will get the job of creating a unique €50,000 monument to celebrate the town's maritime. Donegal County Council's Community Culture and Enterprise Administration Officer Richard Gibson said the scheme has attracted interest from 70 artists across Europe.

The project is being spearheaded by the council's Heritage, Environment, Arts and Rural Tourism project and is being funded by International fund for Ireland, Strabane District Council and Donegal County Council. Richard said "What we envisage is that the artist will create a monument that will be something to commemorate its maritime and perhaps people emigration from Moville because although boats left from Derry there was a tender boat that went to Canada. A cross has been put up in Canada to mark the emigration, Moville may do something to commemorate the departure of the emigrants".

It is hoped a consultation will soon take place to appoint an artist who will then work closely with the community to identify where the one-of-a-kind monument will be based and what design it will be. Mr. Gibson added "We are hoping a design will be completed by September and the monument will be ready by the end of the year and at the latest January 2008 with it being put up in February next year".

The scheme is part of an overall project to spend €3 million on the county's heritage towns. As well as the monument being erected environmental improvement have been carried out and new signs have been put up for visitors to easily locate the town.

Moville shop keepers can apply for funding for a new shop frontage which will be in keeping with the town's heritage status.

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