New monument sought to honour Navan’s miners

A CALL for a new sculpture honouring Navan's miners to be located close to the Andy Connolly Roundabout in Navan has been made by the Meath Council of Trade Unions.

The call comes as Meath County Council prepares to relocate the 'On the Great Wide Open' sculpture which was previously located at the former roundabout on the Kells Road.

The sculpture pays tribute to all of the people who dedicated their lives to the mining industry in Navan, but according to John Regan, chairman of Meath Council of Trade Unions, it is a “bug bearer for the miners that the current monument does not reflect the image of a current day miner.”

The sculpture was put in storage last January when work began to replace the roundabout with a signalised junction to facilitate the new LDR4 road.

Council officials are expected to give a presentation on the future location of the sculpture at a meeting of Navan Municipal Council on Wednesday.

Last Wednesday representatives of the miners, including Mr Regan and Gerry Devins, along with Cllr Eddie Fennessy, met with council officials to discuss the sculpture.

Following the meeting, the Council of Trade Unions wrote to the council asking that a location close to the Andy Connolly Roundabout as it would be appropriate to have the monument within proximity to the home of the mine.

“We sought from the council that they should consider a formal relaunch of the monument and that for this purpose a new monument should be commissioned.

“We stated that the bug bearer for the miners is that the current monument does not reflect the image of a current day miner,” stated the letter, which was signed by Mr Regan and Trades Council secretary, Moira Leydon.

The letter points out that the council receives substantial annual finances from Tara Mines and that the workers are supporting the local economy on an ongoing basis, which will continue as the mine extends into Tara Deep.

“A new monument is not an unreasonable request. In addition, we are of the opinion that a new monument would add to the many tourist attractions in Navan and wider communities across County Meath. We suggested that the current monument be kept in storage until an understanding is reached with the unions on a new monument and an agreed location.”

The letter reminds the local authority that the Trades Council sought engagement on the matter for all the workers in Tara Mines as early as April this year.

“Last week has been the first contact in seven months with our union. In this regard we believe it important to state that council has failed in consultation and information sharing since the start of the project which is very disappointing.

“With all due respect Tara Mines is one of the biggest employments in the area which we contend deserves better respect from the council senior management.

“While we acknowledge the new road layout project is approaching the end and we would like to see it completed on time, we remain available for any meetings the council wish to have to expedite matters to a satisfactory conclusion.

“Our next meeting should be able to reach an amicable timeframe to conclude matters,” the letter concludes.

A spokesperson for Meath County Council said the council met representatives from the Meath Council of Trade Unions and the Tara Mines workers to outline the proposed location and discuss the details of the new location for the existing statue, in advance of bringing the proposals to the Navan MD Members at their October MD Meeting.

"While these representatives did request verbally and in writing that a new alternative statue be commissioned on or close to the Andy Connolly roundabout, the council advised that they felt this request for a new statue at a different location was separate to discussions on the relocation of the existing 'On the Great Wide Open' statue.

“The council further advised they would revert on this separate matter after the proposals had been discussed with the Navan MD Members.”