Mayo-German twinning explores sculpture celebrating peace and friendship
SCULPTOR Cathal McCarthy has presented his proposals for a Friedensbaum (Peace Tree) sculpture to the newly appointed Mayor of Höchstadt, Alexander Schulz, Castlebar's twin town.
The sculpture proposal celebrates peace, friendship and the enduring relationship between Ireland and Germany.
The presentation was made at a reception dinner hosted by Mayo County Council in Lough Lannagh Village, attended by Ann Moore, head of Castlebar Municipal District, representing hosts Mayo County Council, and Maria Carey of Davitt College, alongside German journalist Johanna Blum.
The meeting marks a further step in the ongoing cultural relationship between Castlebar and its German twin town, Höchstadt, and explores the strong potential for a collaborative public art project involving young people and both communities.
Titled Friedensbaum (Peace Tree), the proposed sculpture seeks to create a lasting symbol of friendship, mutual understanding and shared European values. Rooted in the long-standing twinning relationship between the two towns, the project aims to use contemporary sculpture as a means of connecting communities, cultures and generations.
Cathal McCarthy presented the developing concept to Mayor Schulz, outlining the potential for the sculptural work that would embody the spirit of peace and international friendship. The proposal builds on the cultural and educational connections between Davitt College in Castlebar and Realschule Höchstadt, which have helped sustain links between young people in Ireland and Germany.
The Peace Tree concept offers an opportunity to give physical form to the values underpinning these relationships. Through a shared creative process, the project provides a platform for students to explore the meaning of peace, friendship, identity and belonging in a contemporary European context.
For McCarthy, whose public art practice frequently brings together communities, place and collaborative enquiry, the proposal reflects the capacity of sculpture to operate beyond its physical form.
The sculpture will celebrate the important connections between Casltebar and Höchstadt. The involvement of local authority representatives, educational partners and the media highlights the project's potential to bring together civic, cultural and educational interests on both sides of the Irish Sea.
The Castlebar - Höchstadt twinning relationship provides a meaningful foundation for the initiative, connecting two communities through shared experiences and a commitment to international friendship. In a world where peace and understanding remain vital, Friedensbaum seeks a positive and enduring expression of what communities can achieve through cooperation.
For further information, see cathalmccarthy.net.