Kenneth Thompson

Title: Window to the East

Artist Name: Kenneth Thompson
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Location: Carrigtohill, Co. Cork
Details of Commission: Commissioned by Cork County Council to mark the opening of the N25 Carrigtohill by-pass in November 1994, this sculpture by Ken Thompson takes the form of a tapering pier, built of drystone walling with additional carved-stone elements.  The drystone walling is of very high quality, and was carried out by the Council's project staff under the supervision of the sculptor, who added the carved stone elements.  Although Windows on the East is very much a contemporary work of art, significant parts of its design are inspired by Barryscourt Castle, an early 16th century Norman tower-house located on the southern side of the dual carriageway, less than one kilometre distant.  For centuries, Barryscourt Castle was a stronghold of the Irish-Norman Barry clan.  It is currently being restored by the Office of Public Works in collaboration with the Barryscourt Trust and Cork County Council, a project initiated by Ken Thompson in the late 1980's.  The pier has very fine proportions, being slightly concave on the east side and slightly convex on the west front, facing the oncoming traffic.  At the top of the pier's west front is the helmeted head of a Norman knight or soldier, starting forward from the drystone wall as if surprised.  In the centre, below the soldier's head, is a vertical slot, inspired by one of the slit windows at Barryscourt Castle.  The window cuts right through the pier, and is narrow on the west side and much wider on the east side.  Below the window is a stone slab with the carved inscription:                                                    ACCIDIT.VT                                                                                                                         STRVERER.OB                                                                                                                      STAM.VIAM                                                                                                                         LATRM.FACTM                                                                                                                       MCMXCIV                                                                                                                               Translated, the inscription reads, 'This road caused me to be built'.  It is based on a simple Latin inscription, carved on a 16th-century mantlepiece in Barryscourt Castle, which reads, 'This castle caused me to be built'.

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