Happy 800th Anniversary Riverfront Sculptor, Irish Clan Off For Sister City Of Limerick

A four-member delegation from Spokane is traveling to Limerick, Ireland, next week to celebrate the 800th anniversary of that city’s charter.

The four delegates - City Councilman Jeff Colliton, Joan Jamison, Maureen Hurl Peterson and Harry Sladich - all are of Irish descent and belong to the Limerick Sister City Society.

The group will carry along two statues created by David Govedare, the artist who put runners in Riverfront Park and horses on a hillside near Vantage, Wash. Another sculptor, Keith Powell, also worked on the two pieces going to Ireland.

A sculpture depicting a Limerick castle on one side and Riverfront Park’s clock tower and Pavilion on the other will be presented to Limerick city officials.

A second statue, which uses ancient symbols from Ireland’s past, will be given to the University of Limerick.

Steel left over from the crafting of the Bloomsday runners was used in both sculptures.

The trip is sponsored by the city of Spokane but paid for by private donations.

Govedare donated his work. “It’s a gift of the heart,” he said. “… I’m past draft age, but I feel like I’ve been drafted to do this. It’s an honor to be asked to make something for an 800th birthday.”

Limerick has been Spokane’s sister city since 1990. The relationship helps make Spokane residents more culturally aware and draws international attention to the region, said Peterson, the outgoing president of the sister city society.

Limerick has an unbroken line of mayors that began in 1197 with the signing of the city’s charter.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color photo