‘No plans’ to put replica stone on public display

History fans in Castlepollard who commissioned an artist to copy a 350-year-old stone monument (right) are to hear directly from council officials why the artefact cannot be erected where they want it placed.

At the October meeting of the Mullingar Kinnegad Municipal District, the executive turned down a suggestion by Cllr Emily Wallace that a suitable location be provided at the Westmeath County Council buildings in Castlepollard to display the replica of the Castlepollard Monument commissioned in 2016 by the North Westmeath Historical Society.

The written response to Cllr Wallace’s request stated that the district had “no plans” regarding the installation of the replica, which is a copy of a stone monument that guards the entrance to the Pollard family vault on the southern side of Killafree Church.

“It is dated 1679 and contains the inscription ‘Walter Pollard (Esquire) of Castlepollard Esquire erected this monument...’,” Cllr Wallace told the Westmeath Examiner after last week’s meeting.

The reason the stone is so significant, she explained, is that it was Walter Pollard who came up with the name Castlepollard for the hamlet that had up to then been known as Ballinagrosse.

“He’s more or less the founding father of Castlepollard and was responsible for the growth and development of the town,” said Cllr Wallace.

“It is only right that we should acknowledge the founding father of the town by erecting or installing this copy in a public space for the people of Castlepollard.”

Cllr Wallace explained that the replica was commissioned because the historical society members were worried about the threat of damage to the original.

“In 2016 the North Westmeath Historical Society received a €1,500 grant from the Creative Ireland Fund to make the replica, and sculptor Mel French was commissioned to make it.”

Cllr Wallace told council officials she was disappointed at the response and that the council was not prepared to work with a heritage group to save a work of art.

“I just think it’s not a satisfactory answer,” the Fine Gael woman declared, and Castlepollard councillor Frank McDermott stated that he fully supported her position on the issue.

Responding, the director of services, Martin Murray, told Cllr Wallace he would liaise directly with the historical society and explain the reasons behind the council’s response.