Local business Murphy’s jewellers will seek the support of Kilkenny local authorities for a hurling ‘Walk of Fame’, featuring a series of bronze plaques, to be inlaid at a public place in the city.
Kilkenny County Board has already confirmed its support for the concept, however it is not offering financial backing. Approval is now required from the council before the project can move into the public realm.
Martin Murphy, who is behind the initiative, says that the full cost of the proposed project will be borne by Murphy’s jewellers.
In September of last year, Kilkenny Borough Council established a committee to plan a public monument to the county’s hurlers. Funding of €150,000 for the project was secured from the Percent for Art scheme, which allows money to be set aside for a piece of public artwork.
Mr Murphy said he was aware of the proposed monument, but that previous attempts to progress such monuments had floundered.
Similarly to the Percent for Art piece, the Parade has emerged as the preferred location for the Walk of Fame works. A poll taken on the Kilkenny Cats’ fan forum shows nearly two thirds of voters have selected the Parade.
Mr Murphy has contacted a specialist company to produce the plaques, the designs for which are currently being drawn. He hopes to have the completed drawings by next week, at which point he will approach the council for approval.
“The GAA are happy to back this, so hopefully we will get a green light from the council,” he told the Kilkenny Advertiser.
“It all depends on how willing they are to support this. I could have all the plaques ready in five months time all going well.”
As the project is in its infancy, it is not yet known exactly who will feature on the plaques. The ‘team of the century’ or ‘15 captains’ are two options that have been mooted. Mr Murphy says he is open to allowing a public vote on the issue, but that only retired players could be considered for inclusion, as the bronze plaques would be unalterable once set.
