Cast in concrete, Breaking Emmet’s Block stands as a monument to Ireland’s turbulent history. This impressive sculpture, a creation of artist Alice Rekab, isn’t just a random assortment of concrete and steel. It’s a direct response to the 1916 Rising, commissioned by South Dublin County Council to commemorate the centenary of that pivotal event. The location of Breaking Emmet’s Block, outside the Pearse Museum on Grange Road, is no accident. It serves as a constant reminder of the legacy of Patrick Pearse, the leader of the 1916 Rising, whose historic home and Irish language school were located here.
The sculpture’s design, a striking combination of polished concrete and steel, draws inspiration from an artefact housed within the Pearse Museum itself: Robert Emmet’s Block. This artefact, linked to both Emmet’s execution and the signing of the first Irish government bonds, symbolizes the birth of a new world from the sacrifice of the old. Breaking Emmet’s Block echoes this sentiment, representing the impact of change and the emergence of a new Ireland.