The Wellington Monument ( ga,
Leacht
A leacht (plural: leachta) is a small square or rectangular stone structure often found in Early Irish Christian places of worship. They are typically made from rough, un mortared stones, and are most often found in monasteries on island off the w ...
Wellington), or sometimes the Wellington Testimonial, is an
obelisk located in the
Phoenix Park,
Dublin, Ireland.
The testimonial is situated at the southeast end of the Park, overlooking
Kilmainham and the
River Liffey. The structure is tall, making it the largest obelisk in Europe.
History
The Wellington Testimonial was built to commemorate the victories of
Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington. Wellington, the British politician and general, also known as the 'Iron Duke', was born in Ireland. Originally planned to be located in
Merrion Square
Merrion Square () is a Georgian garden square on the southside of Dublin city centre.
History
The square was laid out in 1752 by the estate of Viscount FitzWilliam and was largely complete by the beginning of the 19th century. The demand for ...
, it was built in the Phoenix Park after opposition from the square's residents.
The obelisk was designed by the architect
Sir Robert Smirke and the foundation stone was laid in 1817. In 1820, the project ran out of construction funds and the structure remained unfinished until 18 June 1861 when it was opened to the public. There were also plans for a statue of Wellington on horseback, but a shortage of funds ruled that out.
Features
There are four bronze plaques cast from cannons captured at
Waterloo
Waterloo most commonly refers to:
* Battle of Waterloo, a battle on 18 June 1815 in which Napoleon met his final defeat
* Waterloo, Belgium, where the battle took place.
Waterloo may also refer to:
Other places
Antarctica
*King George Island (S ...
– three of which have pictorial representations of his career while the fourth has an inscription.
The plaques depict 'Civil and Religious Liberty' by John Hogan, 'Waterloo' by
Thomas Farrell and the 'Indian Wars' by
Joseph Robinson Kirk
Joseph Robinson Kirk (1821 – 30 August 1894) was a noted Irish sculptor.
Life
He was born in Dublin in 1821, the fifth child and eldest son of Thomas Kirk and Eliza Robinson. He lived in Jervis Street and studied with his father and at ...
. The inscription reads:
:''Asia and Europe, saved by thee, proclaim''
:''Invincible in war thy deathless name,''
:''Now round thy brow the civic oak we twine''
:''That every earthly glory may be thine.''
Cultural references
The monument is referenced throughout
James Joyce's ''
Finnegans Wake''. The first page of the novel alludes to a giant whose head is at "
Howth Castle and Environs" and whose toes are at "a knock out in the
park
A park is an area of natural, semi-natural or planted space set aside for human enjoyment and recreation or for the protection of wildlife or natural habitats. Urban parks are urban green space, green spaces set aside for recreation inside t ...
(p. 3)"; John Bishop extends the analogy, interpreting this centrally located obelisk as the prone giant's male member. A few pages later, the monument is the site of the fictional "Willingdone Museyroom" (p. 8).
Gallery
Image:Wellington Testimonial, 1830 v3.jpg, Engraving ca 1830
Image:WellingtonMonument1.jpg, Inscription
Image:WellingtonMonument2.jpg, Plaque
Image:WellingtonMonument3.jpg, 'Indian Wars'
Image:Waterloo Wellington.jpg, 'Waterloo'
Image:Dublin Irland-55.jpg, Aerial view
Footnotes
References
{{Wellesley
Buildings and structures in Dublin (city)
Obelisks in the Republic of Ireland
Monumental columns in the Republic of Ireland
Tourist attractions in Dublin (city)
Monuments to Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
Phoenix Park