Photographed By William Murphy - Select Image To View Photographs

___

PHOTOGRAPHED MAY 2016

___

The sculpture is carved from Kilkenny Limestone (often called "black marble"). It is a highly stylised, semi-abstract representation of a ram. The Form: If you look at it from the side (as in your closer photos), the large, curved "yoke" at the top represents the animal's massive, heavy horns curling over.

___

___

Up until February 2026 I was unable to determine if this was in fact a sculpture.

The sculpture is titled "The Ram" and was created by the renowned Irish sculptor Dick Joynt (1938–2003).

The sculpture is carved from Kilkenny Limestone (often called "black marble"). It is a highly stylised, semi-abstract representation of a ram. The Form: If you look at it from the side (as in your closer photos), the large, curved "yoke" at the top represents the animal's massive, heavy horns curling over.

The Texture: Joynt was known for his "direct carving" method, where he would work with the natural shape and grain of the stone, often leaving rough-hewn textures to contrast with polished surfaces.

Why it's There

Dick Joynt’s work is found all over Ireland—most notably his "Great Light" sculpture at the Custom House Docks in Dublin. This piece was part of a series of sculptures commissioned or placed to celebrate local materials and traditional agricultural themes, though its abstract nature means many walkers pass it by thinking it's just a strangely shaped rock.

___

___