A towering bronze figure dominates the skyline. This is the Christ the King Statue in Dun Laoghaire. It’s more than just a statue. It’s a story etched in bronze a testament to faith perseverance and artistic vision.
The Christ the King Statue stands 18 feet tall weighing approximately 3.5 tons. It wasn’t always here. This majestic sculpture began its journey much earlier. It was originally conceived as the Triple Cross. This name reflects the three distinct scenes on the pillar. They represent desolation consolation and triumph. A weary Jesus crucified the resurrected Christ and finally Christ emerging victorious.
Irish-American sculptor Andrew O’Connor created this powerful work. O’Connor a man influenced by the great Auguste Rodin first displayed the Triple Cross in plaster at the Paris Salon of 1926. He even won the Legion d’Honneur for it. Ironically it was initially intended as a Monument to the Dead of the Great War.
The idea to erect the sculpture in Dun Laoghaire stemmed from a 1925 Encyclical Letter. This letter instituted the Feast of Christ the King. A committee formed in 1931 to find a suitable location. Their criteria was simple. The statue needed an unobstructed view from the sea. It also needed easy access for land visitors.
The bronze casting was completed but World War II intervened. To protect it from being melted down the sculpture was hidden in France. It eventually arrived in Dun Laoghaire in 1949. However local clerical opposition delayed its unveiling. For many years the Christ the King Statue resided in a back garden.
Finally on December 16 1978 forty-seven years after the initial public meeting the statue was unveiled. The chosen location on Haigh Terrace proved controversial. It wasn’t the originally intended site. However the Christ the King Statue now stands as a prominent landmark. It moved to its current location near the dlr Lexicon library a few years ago.
Today as you stand before this remarkable piece of art you witness a story of artistic ambition unwavering faith and the power of perseverance. It’s more than just bronze and stone. It’s a symbol of hope enduring through trials and tribulations. It’s a powerful reminder of a faith that even faced opposition found its way into the heart of Dun Laoghaire. It’s a story of a statue which after many years finally found its rightful place.