Select Image To Visit The Photo Gallery: Why Queen Maeve Vanished and the Red Heart Appeared

Photographed By William Murphy - Select Image To View Photographs

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I PREFERRED THE QUEEN

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I'm publishing photographs today of the striking new landmark at Connaught House on Burlington Road, Dublin 4—the bright, modern "Heartfelt" sculpture by Patrick O'Reilly. Yet, for those of us who regularly walked this street, this new artwork marks the end of one of modern Dublin's most complex and controversial pieces of public art.







For years, this plinth was occupied by an imposing 15-foot bronze sculpture, also by O’Reilly, depicting the legendary warrior Queen of Connacht: Queen Maeve.

Chapter One: The Naked Warrior and the Controversy

The original Queen Maeve Statue was a truly remarkable sight. The enormous bronze figure, standing at 15-feet, was an unfiltered, raw representation of the mythological figure. It captured Maeve in her powerful, naked form, holding a spear and, in a vivid reference to the epic Cattle Raid of Cooley (Táin Bó Cúailnge), the severed head of a bull.

As a street photographer, I documented this piece many times until its sudden disappearance. I can personally attest that images of the statue were often flagged and removed from online platforms as "inappropriate adult content" simply because of the figure's nudity. The statue’s time as a public fixture was, therefore, marked by a fascinating friction between powerful art, ancient Irish mythology, and modern sensitivities.

Chapter Two: The Disappearance and the Ownership Claim

The Queen Maeve statue was a private commission for the commercial property, but its departure was far from a routine corporate switch. While the building's new owners, Fine Grain Property, were commencing a major refurbishment and repositioning of Connaught House, the statue vanished because a private individual stepped in and claimed ownership, asserting that the bronze was not, in fact, corporate property.

This claim—and the subsequent removal—adds a layer of dramatic mystery. It signals that this unique piece of Dublin art was ultimately governed by a private agreement, leading to its sudden and final departure from its long-time home. The spectacular bronze figure has now likely moved into a private collection or storage, its public chapter closed by a claim of ownership.

Chapter Three: The Thought Process Behind "Heartfelt"

The replacement artwork is the piece I'm sharing with you today: "Heartfelt," a sculptural red heart, created by Patrick O'Reilly. This vibrant piece, made from Bronze and Crystalline Resin, symbolises a definitive break from the past.

The official meaning is rooted in the building's corporate vision. The "Heartfelt" piece was installed as a "brand new heart" for the refurbished building, representing vitality, creativity, and a welcoming, community-oriented hub. The artist confirmed its meaning is about "connection, emotion, and place" and "positive transformation."

However, the beauty of O'Reilly's art is that it invites personal interpretation. While its official title is "Heartfelt," its towering, slightly curved profile on the plinth could easily be read as a sail on a ship, symbolising the building's new owners confidently navigating into their future. Either way, this new colourful landmark is a powerful symbol of renewal, replacing the warrior queen with an icon of modern emotion and design.