Statues of Oscar Wilde and Eduard Vilde, Galway
In front of Matt O'Flaherty's pharmacy and Lazlo's Jewellry shop on William Street in Galway city, two famous writers sit on a bronze bench engaged in silent conversation. The two writers are Oscar Wilde, famous, if not notorious, and Eduard Vilde, known but only to God and fans of Estonian literature.
These two men never met or communicated in any way, yet here they sit, eye-to-eye almost, silently sharing ---what? Both men were rebels, each in his own way. Wilde suffered for sexual freedom. Vilde was a critic of Tsarist repression and German landlords. What might these two frozen figures be saying? What can be imagined?
Wilde is memorialized in an outdoor sculpture by Danny Osborne in Merrion Square in Dublin, and in another outdoor piece by Maggi Hambling in London. Then there is always the Wilde tomb in Pere Lachaise cemetery in Paris. The statue of Eduard Vilde is a copy of the original, cast in 1999 in Tartu, Estonia by Tiiu Kirsipuu.
Visitors like to share the bench with the two writers (there is room between them). They take photo ops, and have imaginary one-way conversations with the stolid authors. Buskers seldom pass up a chance to join in with a little music and conviviality. Oscar silently holds his hat and cane. Eduard sits in pensive repose.
These two men never met or communicated in any way, yet here they sit, eye-to-eye almost, silently sharing ---what? Both men were rebels, each in his own way. Wilde suffered for sexual freedom. Vilde was a critic of Tsarist repression and German landlords. What might these two frozen figures be saying? What can be imagined?
Wilde is memorialized in an outdoor sculpture by Danny Osborne in Merrion Square in Dublin, and in another outdoor piece by Maggi Hambling in London. Then there is always the Wilde tomb in Pere Lachaise cemetery in Paris. The statue of Eduard Vilde is a copy of the original, cast in 1999 in Tartu, Estonia by Tiiu Kirsipuu.
Visitors like to share the bench with the two writers (there is room between them). They take photo ops, and have imaginary one-way conversations with the stolid authors. Buskers seldom pass up a chance to join in with a little music and conviviality. Oscar silently holds his hat and cane. Eduard sits in pensive repose.
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Statues of Oscar Wilde and Eduard Vilde on Map
Sight Name: Statues of Oscar Wilde and Eduard Vilde
Sight Location: Galway, Ireland (See walking tours in Galway)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Galway, Ireland (See walking tours in Galway)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Galway, Ireland
Create Your Own Walk in Galway
Creating your own self-guided walk in Galway is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Salthill Seaside Walking Tour
If you fancy a quality break by the sea, while in Galway, you don't need to go far. The small seaside spot called Salthill is only 3km away from the downtown shops, clubs and pubs, and you can get here on foot easily.
Speaking of pubs, there's no shortage of them in Salthill either. In fact, one of the local waterholes 鈥� O'Connors 鈥� bills itself as the first singing pub in... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.4 Km or 0.9 Miles
Speaking of pubs, there's no shortage of them in Salthill either. In fact, one of the local waterholes 鈥� O'Connors 鈥� bills itself as the first singing pub in... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.4 Km or 0.9 Miles
Galway Introduction Walking Tour
Galway is located on the River Corrib between Lough Corrib and Galway Bay. It was in the old Kingdom of Connacht. Galway grew from a settlement around a fortification established by the King of Connacht in 1124.
In 1484 a Charter of Mayoralty was granted to the first mayor of Galway, Peirce Lynch, by Richard III of England. Lynch was one of the "Tribes of Galway" that ruled the town... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.6 Km or 1.6 Miles
In 1484 a Charter of Mayoralty was granted to the first mayor of Galway, Peirce Lynch, by Richard III of England. Lynch was one of the "Tribes of Galway" that ruled the town... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.6 Km or 1.6 Miles