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THE CORK CITY councillor who put up a reward for information about a missing fountain says that searches will take place over the weekend.
Fianna Fáil’s Kenneth O’Flynn appeared on Cork’s Red FM on Tuesday appealing for information about the Dunscombe Fountain, which had been at the end of the city’s Shandon Street.
It was removed in the early 20th century, according to Cork Past and Present. It was replaced by another fountain in time for the Cork 800 celebrations, which took place in 1985. This fountain was removed in 2003 before the area was remodelled under the Shandon renewal scheme.
O’Flynn was asked by radio host Neil Prendeville to probe the council on the whereabouts of the Dunscombe fountain, which was first installed in the late 1600s in Brown’s Square beside the North Main Bridge.
He was told at Monday’s council meeting that:
The historical records suggest that the structure was removed from the street sometime before the 1980s. Another fountain was installed in Brown’s Square as part of the Cork 800 celebrations. This structure was subsequently removed in 2003 as part of the Shandon Street Renewal Project.
However the current whereabouts of the fountain, and its distinctive gas light, are currently unknown.
Reward
O’Flynn and Prendeville, along with two others, each put up €100 as a reward for information about the location of the fountain.
O’Flynn told TheJournal.ie that there has been a massive response to the appeal.
We’ve had a tremendous amount of claims and emails from members of the public – former employees of contractors, of Cork City Council. I’ve had 63 emails and my phone hasn’t stopped. Neither has the phone in Red FM.
“I can’t say much as to where it is, but it’s not on the northside of the city. We will be using drone technology over the weekend.”
O’Flynn said that the Dunscombes were a merchant family in Cork who gifted the fountain to the city.
He says that the council’s inability to tell him where the fountain is now is unacceptable.
It seems like there is a completely inaccurate inventory of our historical sculptures in Cork. People have been contacting us about other things like sculptures, cannons and lighting.
While O’Flynn accepts that the issue may sound humourous, it is no laughing matter.
The council response showed the blasé and cavalier attitude towards the historical artefacts of this city.
“It raises questions about governance of city.
“If we haven’t been keeping stock control, we have to examine questions about this.
It may come across as something funny, but the management shouldn’t be cavalier about it.
O’Flynn said a drone would be used to search for the fountain this weekend.
Cork City Council did not respond to a request for comment.
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Maybe it went home to Fountainstown.
@Dj: Hammond Lane (scrap metal company) would be a more likely get.
Some County Council employee probably though it would look nice in their garden lol.
I’d say check with the the indigenous people of our fair country………probably on a site somewhere alongside a broken dishwasher and a large pile of domestic rubbish.
What’s with the burkas?
@Matty kinevan: traditionally in rural Ireland widows wore black wollen shawls. The tradition started dying out after about the 1930s. But it was never really that stricked. I can remember my great grandmother had one she would wear. In the early 70′s when I was child.. You see them wearing them in old photos and movies. Do you remember the picture of Peg on the leaving cert book. She has one on.
@Thomas Maher: Thanks for the info Thomas
@Matty kinevan: Excellent point which I had missed, it was a time in Ireland when women wore a shawl over their heads.
@Matty kinevan: Cork ‘Shawlie’ – a close relative of mine had a relative who was the last wearer of a Cork Shawlie.
Worn by women in Cornmarket Street (Known derogatorily by the British as ‘paddys market’)
@Thomas Maher: Don’t tell him that, Thomas. Now Matty will be hating on the aul widows.
Looks like a flea market in Iraq.
Was it made of copper? because if so……
Is this the most recent photo they could find?..
@Matty kinevan: “It was removed in the early 20th century”. Probably.
@Is it snowing in IE?: Fair enough so
Sorry I have it here!! I mistakenly took it as the fountain of youth but to no avail alas im still old!! I shall return it for a nominal fee, Sorry for the disruption. Now where did I Park that artiic?
Pray tell of what material is this fountain made of??
Luckily Cork women are no longer forced to wear the Hijab
€100 reward,thats very encouraging
Rumour has it that said fountain (one of three that went missing) is in the grounds of a large house in Cork.
@Anthony city or county?
@Maeve O’Brien: County
@Anthony P: Mallow?
@Anthony P: Send them the location and claim your 100 (actually – its gone up to 200 euros now if you check kennethnoflynn twitter posts)
Showed this to mum native of Cork though not lived there for many years she thought the first photo was Grand Parade and can’t recall the exact fountain but agree the Merchant Princes endowed the City like Caesars as their argosies full-bottom plied between the Marshy Place and Her port and every corner of a foreign field that was – as they thought – forever Cork Merchant Princes.
Disgrace if it’s been fiddled this is Ireland home of the lyre and the harp also because nothing happens without pulling strings pace Ms Potter I hope it is found and the culprits identified but don’t hold out much hope bits and pieces of us keep disappearing sic transit Gloria Mundi but there’s still Barry’s Tea so hasn’t transited entirely. Statio Bene Fide Carinis as she might say. By.
Wasn’t me!
@Colette Kearns: It was you! Sure I saw you take it
This story will be a splash
Whoever has it can keep it if they’ve had it for six years or more. Non-story.
If Kenneth O’Flynn put as much effort into sort out homeless people in his constituency than looking for moving statues it would be great rather than waste taxpayers money on headline grabbers.
Some langer stole it!
Maybe the taliban blew it up.
How???like……..HOW!
Fr Ted
Have they tried Ballinspittle?
I bet those muslim women in the picture stole it. They’re like that, y’know.
Maybe the Easter Bunny hid it for the craic
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