Unwanted in Ennistymon, the controversial bronze Púca artwork is now officially up for grabs for other towns and villages in north Clare.
This follows Clare County Council formally seeking expressions of interest from other communities in north Clare in the €30,000 Púca artwork
Last month the council abandoned plans to install the Púca in Ennistymon following a local outcry that included the local parish priest denouncing the Púca from the altar last year.
Now anxious to avoid a repeat of the Ennistymon controversy which has delayed the project over the past nine months, the council is insisting that the Púca has widespread support from any community in north Clare in order to secure the art-work.
As part of the conditions laid down by the local authority, the council is stating that there must be demonstrable community buy-in where there must be evidence of a majority of the community in favour of the Púca that would include minutes of a community meeting where a decision was made to approve the expression of interest.
Communities must also show to the council the exact location where the Púca will be installed and include the written consent of the landowner.
The project stalled last May after local opposition and Púca creator, Aidan Harte said on Friday: “All I really want for the Púca is to go somewhere where he is wanted and welcomed.”
Mr Harte said: “The town that opens its arms to the Puca will reap the rewards.”
He said: “For all the drama about it, a blind man can see that there will be something to interest people here in the Puca.”
Mr Harte said that the Púca “will be won by the most enthusiastic and most organised community. It will be a fun centre of interest for any town that has it”.
Mr Harte said that the whole situation around the opposition to the Púca last year “was bit of a sickener but I am feeling much more optimistic about it now”.
Mr Harte stated that he brought a model of the Púca for school children at Rineen National School in west Clare this week.
He said: “After all the hootin’ and hollerin’ about the Púca’s dark reputation, kids at Rineen school were lining up to rub his toe and make a wish and all doing the Puca’s iconic pose standing on one leg.”
Mr Harte said that he recently met with the Council’s Director of Rural Development, Leonard Cleary and Head of Tourism, Deirdre O’Shea.
He said: “They are 100 per cent behind it - they know they have something special on their hands and they want to find the right venue for it.”
Mr Harte said that the Púca will be cast this month.
He said: “We are all eager to fire ahead and it is conceivable that it could be done and erected by mid Summer’s night which would be great and in keeping the Puca’s association with fairies and mischief”.
Lahinch hotelier, Michael Vaughan said that the Púca would provide “tremendous benefit” to a Clare town or village off the Wild Atlantic Way such as Lisdoonvarna, Corofin, Kilfenora or Inagh.
He said: “As for Lahinch, I think it would be too much cherry on the cake if we tried to take from another community that would be more deserving.”
The deadline for expressions of interest is March 24.
