Cliodhna Cussen

Cliodhna Cussen (1932-2022) was an Irish sculptor,[1] artist and author. She was born in Newcastle West, County Limerick in 1932 to a prominent local family and died on August 2, 2022. She was married to Pádraig Ó Snodaigh, a poet, writer and publisher. She was mother of Sinn Féin TD for Dublin South Central Aengus Ó Snodaigh.

Cussen's statue of Saint Patrick, Máméan in Connemara.

One of her most prominent pieces of public art is at the intersection of Pearse and College Streets in Dublin. The Long Stone replica (Ivar the Boneless' Pillar) was erected in 1986 and marks the site of an original Viking long stone to prevent their longships from running aground.[2] She also created the 'Who Made The World' sculpture in Ballsbridge.

She has received many public work commissions which can be found around Ireland. She is known for working mainly in stone and bronze. In 1986, she added a statue of Saint Patrick depicted as a shepherd with a sheep at his feet at the pilgrimage site of Máméan in Connemara.[3]

She is the author of the novel, An Eochair (the key), a fictional account of the life of Eibhlín Dubh Ní Chonaill (especially her relationship with Art Ó Laoghaire) author of Caoineadh Airt Uí Laoghaire one of the greatest laments in Irish literature.[4] She has authored three collections of poetry published by Coiscéim, Sifíní (2001), Turasanna (2011) and Idir Dhá Sháile (2018).