A new arrival in Milltownpass

If you’ve been to Milltownpass of late you might have spotted a striking new presence as you passed through the centre of the village. Emerging from the shrubbery within one of the large flowerbeds at the river is a beautiful wooden sculpture by renowned Irish wood carver Richie Clarke.

The sculpture, which was commissioned by Milltownpass Tidy Towns, is a depiction of the female Celtic goddess of nature ‘Danu’, with a barn owl perched above her and an Irish hare by her side, both currently endangered species in Ireland.

Milltownpass Tidy Towns secretary Ronan Lynskey said: “The sculpture was erected in honour of our new bog and woodland trail at Milltownpass Bog NHA (Natural Heritage Area), which was officially opened a few weeks ago and has been really busy ever since.

“We wanted something beautiful that would represent the abundance of nature and biodiversity in and around Milltownpass, and also something that would connect the local community with the NHA.

“We’re grateful to Richie for this wonderful piece of art and delighted with how the sculpture turned out. We’re also grateful to the National Parks and Wildlife Service and the Peatlands Community Engagement Scheme for providing the funding for the work, and to the team in Westmeath County Council who helped out with the installation.”