Is iconic Christy Ring statue ready for airport departure?

He has been welcoming people arriving in Cork for the past 20 years, but Cork Airport management is ‘open’ to the statue of Christy Ring moving to a new home if a suitable replacement can be found.

The bronze statue of Cork hurling hero Christy Ring, created by sculptor Seán McCarthy, was unveiled at the airport by then sports minister, the late Bernard Allen, in 1995.

The statue moved to its current position outside Cork Airport arrivals when the new terminal opened in 2006, and now welcomes visitors to Cork as they exit the building.

The real Christy Ring himself made a controversial switch from Cloyne to Glen Rovers in 1941.

Open to a move

While airport management remains fiercely proud of Ringy, it is open to his likeness making another move.

“Christy is our statue and we like it where he is. But we have offered that if the City Council or the GAA wish to relocate him, we are open to it,” said Mr McCarthy.

The statue was modelled at the National Sculpture Factory on Albert Rd in Cork and cast in bronze by a foundry in Dublin. It was unveiled in October 1995.

Almost a decade ago, Fine Gael councillor Des Cahill called for the statue to be repositioned outside Páirc Uí Chaoimh to coincide with the reopening of the stadium following its €110m redevelopment.

In recent weeks, the statue has been draped in the colours of Glen Rovers after the famous northside club defeated old rivals St Finbarr’s to claim the Cork Senior Hurling Championship last month.

The latest phase of Cork Airport’s €200m redevelopment will be unveiled next month, with the opening of new departure security screening facilities and the revamped arrivals area.