This site uses cookies to improve your experience and to provide services and advertising.
By continuing to browse, you agree to the use of cookies described in our Cookies Policy.
You may change your settings at any time but this may impact on the functionality of the site.
To learn more see our Cookies Policy.
THERE ARE HUNDREDS of statues of the Virgin Mary dotted around Ireland – on housing estates; at schools; near churches or railway crossings.
Most were put up in the Marian Year of 1954, when entire communities mobilised to erect a statue for their area.
Some have since fallen into disrepair – but many remain well-kept and regularly maintained by the people around them. Nevertheless their popularity has been on the wane – with the exception of July 1985 when a statue in Ballinspittle, Co Cork was reported to have spontaneously moved.
Advertisement
Photographer Steve Ryan travelled Ireland capturing the Marian statues – as well as Sacred Heart figures and other religious icons – for his exhibition Sometimes They Move.
Friday 15 November, 2024
Friday 15 November, 2024
Download our app
PHOTOS: The statues of Our Lady around Ireland
THERE ARE HUNDREDS of statues of the Virgin Mary dotted around Ireland – on housing estates; at schools; near churches or railway crossings.
Most were put up in the Marian Year of 1954, when entire communities mobilised to erect a statue for their area.
Some have since fallen into disrepair – but many remain well-kept and regularly maintained by the people around them. Nevertheless their popularity has been on the wane – with the exception of July 1985 when a statue in Ballinspittle, Co Cork was reported to have spontaneously moved.
Photographer Steve Ryan travelled Ireland capturing the Marian statues – as well as Sacred Heart figures and other religious icons – for his exhibition Sometimes They Move.
The results of his work are on display this weekend at South Studios, Dublin 8 as part of the PhotoIreland Festival 2012. But we’ve got a sample of the images for you here:
Sometimes They Move: The religious statues that are left
Sometimes They Move: The religious statues that are left
Sometimes They Move: The religious statues that are left
Sometimes They Move: The religious statues that are left
Sometimes They Move: The religious statues that are left
Sometimes They Move: The religious statues that are left
Sometimes They Move: The religious statues that are left
All photos by Steve Ryan
PHOTOS: Dramatic black-and-white images of Dublin by night>
In pics: Photographs of life in Dublin flats goes on show… in a Dublin flat>
Read: An emigrant’s letter home from Argentina… in the 1800s>
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
In Pictures marian statues Our Lady Photography photoireland photoireland 2012 photoireland festival 2012 Photos sacred heart sometimes they move South Studios steve ryan Virgin Mary