Renewed calls for statue of Easter Rising hero to be erected in New Ross – ‘it’s a shame we do not pay tribute to him’

By Simon Bourke, Wexford People

There have been renewed calls to erect a statue of Easter Rising hero Michael O’Hanrahan in New Ross more than ten years after it was first proposed. Back in October 2015, it was confirmed that a statue of the New Ross native was to be erected in Brennan’s Lane in January 2017 on the 140th anniversary of his birth.

That was to coincide with an exhibition about the rebel who was executed by firing squad on May 4, 1916 at Kilmainham Gaol for his role in the Rising where he was second in command of Dublin's 2nd battalion. O’Hanrahan, who was born in New Ross in 1877, fought at the Jacob's Biscuit Factory during the Rising and led his garrison out of the factory through New Bride Street gate before his capture.

However, despite previous promises, a statue commemorating his role in the Easter Rising has yet to materialise. And, at the February meeting of the New Ross Municipal District (NRMD), Councillor Michael Sheehan asked that the project be revived.

“It’s the 110th anniversary of the 1916 Rising, and it’s also over ten years since we decided to commemorate Michael O’Hanrahan with a statue, could we explore all avenues to get this project over the line?” he asked. “It’s an absolute shame that we do not pay tribute to him, a man who was born in the middle of the town.”

“It was brought before the arts officer previously,” replied district manager Alan Fitzhenry.

“The arts officer opposed it as it wasn’t her type of art. That’s the policy she took,” said Cllr Sheehan.