"Who is that guy and where's he going with that rock?"
We continue our investigation into Navan's interesting features of public art with another that reveals more than we expected. Last month we discovered an insight into County Meath but this month it is 'literally all about Navan'.
You are unlikely to have walked past this particular Navan sculpture of the 'Stone Carrying Man' since it stands prominently on the busy R147 Kells Road roundabout. Marking the western entrance to Navan the 3.2m stone man carries a large shaped stone on his shoulder but the plaque on the wall nearby doesn't explain what he's up to.
Busy Kells Road roundabout doesn't offer an opportunity to step any closer.
Viewed from the Moatlands.
Viewed from the Navan side.
Entitled 'On the Great Wide Open' the sculpture by Patrick Barry pays tribute to all of the people who dedicated their lives to the mining industry in Navan.
Unveiled on 18th May 2012, the sculpture represents the quarrying of stone and its movement from one historic location to another. In this particular instance 3 tonnes of limestone came from Kilkenny whilst zinc was extracted locally from Tara Mines.
The Mayor of Navan, Cllr. Anton McCabe, speaking at the official unveiling on 18th May, 2012.
Navan's Hidden Reference
The sculpture's exact position and specifically its orientation puzzled us. Being situated within a km of the Tara Mines complex is understandable, being placed at the northwestern entrance to Navan in a prominent position on a busy roundabout presenting views of the figure's front, back, and sides to approaching vehicles is also understandable. However, we think that it is not a mere coincidence that the figure is not actually looking, or walking, towards either Tara Mines or to Navan's Town Centre. The spiral engravings referencing our historical local art adds to the clue.
Is the sculpted figure actually heading towards an ancient source of Navan's Name?
Navan's Past
The history of our settlement revolves around the confluence of the Boyne and Blackwater rivers which would have been used for food and transport. The carved figure is depicted carrying a stone perhaps from a boat on the Blackwater River and is transporting it to the large mound situated only a few minutes walk further up the hill.
Image adapted from Google Maps
Viewed as you approach from the Kells direction the figure is clearly heading somewhere.
Following his line of sight the Moat covered in trees is in the distance.
The man-made mound (motte and bailey, or moat) is actually the 3,000 year old burial site of Queen Odhbha. Measuring 37 metres in diameter at its base it had been built up as a defensive position over the years by early Gaelic tribes, the Vikings, and finally by the Normans. Between 1997 and 2006 archaeological works demonstrated that there was a substantial enclosed settlement of early medieval date adjacent to the motte (Ref 1).
Navan's Name
'Odhbha' is believed to have been pronounced (n)Od(h=v)bha(n) creating 'Novan' (Ref 2, Ref 3 ), before becoming 'Navan' in the 16th century (Ref 4). Irish speakers replaced 'Odhbha' with 'An Uamha' or 'An Uaimh' which translates as "the Cave" or "the Souterrain" (under ground). It is stretching the imagination too far to think that it actually refers to the modern-day Tara Mines but it is interesting to note that the Stone Carrying Man is actually walking towards this potential source of Navan's town name.
Missed Opportunity
This historic moat is a Registered National Monument (ME025-023001-) but it appears that it is not a celebrated local attraction, there is no plaque or even a roadside signpost. There is no perimeter footpath or formal trail to the top for the explorers amongst us.
The only reference made locally is the area's name, 'Moatlands', which literally means the land around a moat. Furthermore, the proposal to create a 'park and ride' service point (download) at the base of the mound together with the planned Blackwater Park LDR4 bypass (download) will perhaps create an opportunity to bring attention to this forgotten monument from ancient Navan.
Other Interesting Facts:
The history of Navan's name is not clear cut with there being 3 possible sources.
NAVAN is a palindrome and reads the same forwards as backward.
We're not alone! 5 more places around the world share our name: 2 places in Iran, and one each in America, Peru, and Laos.
Related Articles
We've all walked, or more likely driven, past the first item in our mini series about Navan's Art and you might be surprised to discover it's relevance to Meath.
April 2021 Articles
Charity Donation 2021
For the second year running Councillor Alan Lawes is asking the public to nominate Navan area registered charities. Put to public vote 5 will receive equal shares of his €15,000 Council Discretionary Fund, 2021.
Help Map Our Trees
No one really knows what we actually have In our neighborhood we seek Your Help to record and protect them.
Find out how you can Help Map Our Trees.
Who is this guy and where is he going with that rock?
We continue our investigation into Navan's interesting features with another sculpture that reveals more than we expected.
Last month we discovered an insight into County Meath but this month it is literally all about 'Navan'.
"What's wrong with using Weedkiller?"
This was a fair question asked on one of our social media postings so we summarise the issues.
What is it about Dandelions that makes people hate them?
Playing a vital role in nature with properties that people have exploited for centuries the dandelion is far from being a useless weed.
We offer 5 reasons why you should change your mind about these plants being unwanted weeds.