London, UK: 24th JULY 2024
A Kickstarter campaign by a group of writers and readers, artists and historians to see a street statue of Maud Gonne erected in Dublin reached its minimum funding goal within 24 hours of launch.
Phase One of the campaign More Than A Muse launched at 5pm July 22, 2024 on the crowdfunding platform Kickstarter and will run to August 12th, is being led by Irish-born, UK-resident novelist and poet Orna Ross, founder of the Alliance of Independent Authors.
A dedicated “uncommittee” from various creative and scholarly fields has begun work, supported by a network of Gonne’s descendants, including (in alphabetical order) US-based artist Sarah Forrester; descendants of John MacBride, Gonne’s estranged husband, Mary MacBride Walsh, daughter Úna and granddaughter Síabhra; and writer, speaker and transformational coach, Iseult White.
Other esteemed supporters include: Kim Bendheim, author of The Fascination of What’s Difficult; Martin Enright, past president of The Yeats Society; Professor Adrian Frazier, author of The Adulterous Muse; Dr Sinéad McCoole, feminist historian, author, and Head of Exhibitions, Learning and Programming of The National Library (Ireland); and Dr Margaret Ward author of the pioneering Maud Gonne: Ireland’s Joan of Arc, which first highlighted the scale of Gonne’s social and political achievements.
Gonne (1866-1953) is famously remembered as the muse of poet WB Yeats but she inspired many other men and women with her presence and work, and was always more than a muse. A campaigner for the rights of women, prisoners, workers, and children, an impassioned independence activist, and a participant in the Irish literary renaissance as writer, performer, artist, and generous patron.
A controversial figure during her lifetime, and since, her positive impact on Irish culture and society is undeniable, and was extended into the arena of international human rights through her influence on her son Seán, co-founder of Amnesty International.
This campaign for a public commemorative monument seeks to celebrate Gonne’s legacy, to advocate for the recognition of women’s achievements in public spaces, and to foster critical debate about the curation of memory, and remembrance, and missing history.
Gonne was a freelancer and a freethinker who went her own way with a group of feminist, largely socialist women. For this, she was punished with ostracism, insult, and exclusion by the Irish nationalist establishment. She is still misunderstood and misrepresented today.
“Compare the legacies of Gonne and Yeats,” says Orna Ross. “Both were complex personalities and political figures, who lived controversial lives, but while he has received every possible honor, and his faults and weaknesses have been downplayed, Maud Gonne has been sidelined. Every aspect of her personal life, political allegiances, and personality cited as a reason to undermine or ignore her achievements.
“She exemplifies how individuals of the ‘wrong’ sex, gender, sexuality, ethnicity, or abilities often have their human flaws scrutinised and used against them, while those conforming to more established norms evade such judgment. That, and her refusal to be boxed or suppressed by the establishment, make her the perfect emblem for our times.”
As well as being a reminder of her enduring legacy, a statue of Maud Gonne will underscore the crucial roles women have played in shaping the city’s heritage, and the campaign will actively engage with the politics of commemoration, as begun during Ireland’s Decade of Centenaries by grassroots groups like Waking the Feminists.
Currently, Dublin’s public statues predominantly honour men, with only five statues in the whole city representing historical women. Additionally:
- Only 27 of the 936 streets in the city centre are named after women, mostly saints and English queens.
- All three primary train stations, Heuston, Connolly, and Pearse, are named after men
- No park in Dublin bears the name of a woman.
Sources: Simon Tierney; Wikipedia
Kickstarter Campaign Launch
Phase One of the campaign invites backers to purchase art and literature rewards at varying levels, which include original artwork and prints from artist Emma Stroude, events in Dublin and Rosnaree House in Ireland in 2024 and 2025, and an exclusive hardback edition of Orna Ross’s upcoming novel A Life Before, a coming-of-age story about Maud Gonne and WB Yeats.
Emma Stroude, renowned for portraits of Maud Gonne that concentrate on themes of courage, determination and fearlessness, has created an art concept of a statue for use during this phase. “These are not a blueprint for the actual statue but images to inspire the campaign and help raise funds,” says Stroude. She has produced two original drawings (both since purchased by backers), and a limited number of signed prints, depicting an older Maud Gonne, clad in her trademark black outfit and veil, with her beloved dog Dagda walking alongside.
“Our ideal would be to have the finalised statue marching down the pedestrian aisle of O’Connell towards the south side,” says Orna Ross. “This is the direction that today’s protest marches take. It would be wonderful to have our ‘Maud’ walking in solidarity with today’s activists, making that all-important link between past and present. Many of the issues Maud Gonne fought for so devotedly have yet to be resolved.”
All profits from the Kickstarter will directly fund the establishment of the statue campaign and its implementation. A social media account @MaudGonneMacBride in which Maud Gonne “speaks” about Irish and international political questions will now also be set up, as part of the educational dimension of the campaign.
Interested parties can learn more and support the project by signing up for a reward or contributing as little as £1 on Kickstarter.
MEDIA CONTACT:
For media inquiries, interview requests, or additional information, please contact:
Shanaya Wagh, Publishing Manager, Orna Ross Publications.
Email: publications@ornaross.com
Phone: +44 7459562252