On the north bank of Dublin’s Grand Canal, the Patrick Kavanagh Statue is a life-sized bronze of the Irish poet seated on a bench. John Coll’s 1991 sculpture looks out over the water at a spot associated with Kavanagh’s poem “Canal Bank Walk.” Pause here to watch walkers and cyclists pass, or continue along the canal for a quieter look at this literary memorial. It sits between Baggot Street Bridge and Eustace Bridge, a little off the main tourist route.
A memorial beside the canal
John Coll’s 1991 bronze sculpture depicts Patrick Kavanagh seated on a bench beside the Grand Canal. The memorial is on the canal’s north bank, between Baggot Street Bridge and Eustace Bridge.
Kavanagh was an Irish poet and novelist. The statue’s setting recalls his connection to the canal and to watching the people who passed along its banks.
The poem behind the setting
“Canal Bank Walk” describes Kavanagh sitting beside the Grand Canal and observing people nearby. The sculpture places him at a bench overlooking the water, so the setting connects the memorial with the poem’s scene.
Walkers and cyclists pass along the canal, and the spot also works as a pause on a longer waterside stroll. Nearby dining options make it easy to pair the visit with a meal.
FAQ
Where is the Patrick Kavanagh Statue?
It is on the north bank of Dublin’s Grand Canal, between Baggot Street Bridge and Eustace Bridge.
Who made the statue?
John Coll made the life-sized bronze sculpture in 1991.
What is the statue’s connection to Kavanagh’s poetry?
Its canal-side bench setting is linked to Kavanagh’s poem “Canal Bank Walk,” which describes him watching people beside the Grand Canal.
