Work starts on second 'Grace' statue for west Mayo town

WORK has begun on a second 'Grace' sculpture for Newport.

Prince Albert of Monaco unveiled a life-size statue of his mother, the late Princess Grace, in the town earlier this year.

Now sculpture Mark Rode has begun work on a second piece to commemorate pirate queen Grace O'Malley.

The statues have been commissioned to celebrate the town's two Graces - Princess Grace's ancestors hailed from just outside Newport, with Grace O'Malley's name synonymous with Clew Bay.

Newport Business Association is behind the project, and they propose to market Newport as the town of 'The Two Graces'.

Mark revealed a sketch for his latest work on his Facebook page, Mark Rode Sculpture, this week, saying he was 'very excited' to be starting this new project - a statue of Granuaile.

The statue will be located beside the river in Newport and, fittingly, Grace will be depicted looking out towards Clew Bay.