The new sculpture is part of the innovative HEART (for Heritage, Art and Rural Tourism) project’s public art trail, and is one of 12 pieces of new art that is being installed in 12 towns and villages across the Strabane District Council and Donegal County Council areas.

Maurice Harron was specially commissioned by HEART to produce the artwork for Raphoe. For his Raphoe sculpture, the artist drew on themes from pre-history and the nearby Beltany Stone Circle, which dates back more than 6,000 years. According to an esteemed local historian, Jim Bradley, the name Beltany “derives from Baal Tinne, the god of fire, and it is suggested that the druids lit a fire on a particular day in each year in honour of one or other of their gods, possibly the sun.”

Maurice’s sculpture takes the form of a standing female figure that holds her hands in front of her in the shape of a triangle. The figure’s joined hands cast a shadow on the rock opposite the statue each day when the sun is at its highest in the sky. The shadow will fall on the rock at varying times of day throughout the year, depending on the sun’s position.

This complex, mathematical arrangement of sunlight and shadow is known as a “gnomon,” and the artwork will creates a unique feature for the centre of the market town.

“The sculpture was made to celebrate something similar to the purpose of the Beltany stone circle – to track the cycle of the sun,” Maurice said. He will also embed a bronze bar in the rock to show the different elevations of the sun, from mid-summer to mid-winter, and back to mid-summer again. The quartz rocks come from Cranford Quarry.

Maurice Harron’s distinctive sculptures are instantly recognisable for their specific style in various materials, whether bronze or stainless steel. His work for Raphoe features his trademark use of bronze.

HEART Programme Manager, Roisin Connolly, said that she was delighted to see the artwork coming to fruition for the towns and villages participating in the programme.

“Each piece has been created in close consultation with the local community and each reflects aspects of local culture and heritage, and will enhance the local economy by attracting rural tourism,” she said.

“Maurice Harron’s work is known and loved throughout Ireland, the UK and internationally,” Roisin added. “It is a great honour for the HEART Programme to work with this wonderfully skilled and creative artist, and for Raphoe to have original work by this inspirational artist in its Diamond.”

HEART is funded by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and Border Action through Measure 1.1 of the EU’s Interreg IIIA programme, the International Fund for Ireland, Donegal County Council, Strabane District Council and the private sector.