Southgate Sculptures: Welcoming the Boyne Valley
Celebrating Community, Culture & Mythology at Drogheda’s Gateway
“It has been an honour to work with Drogheda Tidy Towns to create these pieces. I have been inspired by Boann, the River Boyne, and the wealth of stories and mythology flowing through this landscape. As someone who lives here and passes by every day,” she added, “I wanted The Well of Wisdom and Boann, Goddess of the Boyne to reflect the beauty, history, and spirit of our community.” — Breda Marron, Artist
How it all Started
In 2022, Drogheda Tidy Towns set out on an ambitious journey to create something truly special for our community. That year, we formed a dedicated subgroup to drive this vision forward. The team included representatives from Drogheda Tidy Towns (Eamonn Clinton and Gerry Leydon), Grangerath residents (Fiona Gilligan and Jacqui Cusack), Deepforde residents (Ciaran Leddy and Aaron O’Neill), the then Cathaoirleach of Laytown & Bettystown Municipal District (Elaine McGinty), the Director of Droichead Arts Centre (Collette Farrell), and the Meath County Council Arts Officer (Gerardette Bailey).
Together, this group developed a clear and inspiring brief: to commission unique sculptures for each of the two Colpe roundabouts in East Meath, adjacent to Southgate Shopping Centre. The artworks were envisioned to capture the essence of Southgate as the gateway to the beautiful, historic, and mythical Boyne Valley, as well as to the historic walled and gated city of Drogheda. Beyond their visual impact, the sculptures were to reflect the area’s rich culture and history, becoming a source of pride and connection for everyone in the community.
Partnering for Progress
From the outset, Meath County Council was a key partner, with their Operations and Engineering teams and senior officials supporting the vision. By early 2023, the group had their agreement to proceed with a formal commissioning process.
Throughout 2023, the team worked diligently through the two-stage commission process, reviewing the many inspiring submissions received from artists. In December 2023, after significant deliberation, the commission was awarded to award-winning local Meath artist Breda Marron for her proposals “The Well of Wisdom” and “Boann, Goddess of the Boyne.
“This project has always been about creating something special and uplifting,” he stated. “It’s a meaningful focal point for Drogheda, the Boyne Valley, and our local communities here in East Meath. We hope that the sculptures inspire pride and a lasting sense of connection
for generations to come. This applies to everyone living locally, visitors, businesses, and shoppers of Southgate.”
— Gerry Leydon, Chairperson of Drogheda Tidy Towns
Celebrating Our Mythical Landscape
Breda Marron is renowned for her thoughtful, site-specific artworks that connect deeply with nature, folklore, and community, including public sculptures such as Heart Space and Éirímís – Together We Rise. Her vision for Colpe celebrates the rich mythology of the Boyne Valley:
- “The Well of Wisdom”, located on the north roundabout, invites exploration of the legendary Segais Well – a sacred source of knowledge – depicted through swirling spirals and bird motifs that echo the lifeblood of the River Boyne.
- “Boann, Goddess of the Boyne”, on the south roundabout, rises in graceful form, symbolising the river’s timeless journey and the unity of communities. Her cloak transforms into two embracing swans, representing love, transformation, and the connection between Drogheda, East Meath, and the wider Boyne Valley.
Installation and Realisation
In 2024, focus shifted to obtaining planning permission with Meath County Council, ensuring all technical and statutory requirements were met. Permission was granted in July 2024, marking a major milestone. Shortly afterwards, the tender for foundation works was completed, with A. Lynch Construction appointed to deliver the groundwork.
This monumental project was made possible through the support of Meath Leader Partnership as lead funder, Meath County Council, and Community Finance Ireland, alongside generous contributions from local businesses including Amazon, Coca-Cola, and The Southgate Management Company.
Meath County Council also played a vital role, funding the planting and landscaping on the roundabouts and surrounding junctions — work that is ongoing and expected to complete later this year.
Fabrication of the sculptures was undertaken by Barry McCann and BMC Engineering, with engineering expertise provided by Eddie Phelan and VCL Consulting, ensuring Breda’s vision was realised to the highest standards of design, safety, and longevity.
By January 2025, contracts were signed and planning began. The team agreed on a June 2025 installation — a timeline that was met successfully. The sculptures now stand proudly at the gateway to Drogheda and the Boyne Valley.
“Meath County Council is proud to support the installation of these exceptional new sculptures at Southgate, which now serve as a striking and symbolic gateway to Drogheda and the wider Boyne Valley. This project exemplifies the power of collaboration between local authorities, community groups and artists. We commend Drogheda Tidy Towns for their leadership and vision in delivering a public artwork that celebrates our cultural heritage, enhances the public realm and fosters a strong sense of place and local pride.” – Meath County Council, Kieran Kehoe, Chief Executive
The Well of Wisdom
Photo To Be Added Above On completion: The Well of Wisdom, located on the north roundabout, invites exploration of the legendary Segais Well – a sacred source of knowledge – depicted through swirling spirals and bird motifs that echo the lifeblood of the River Boyne.
Boann, Goddess of the Boyne
Boann, Goddess of the Boyne, on the south roundabout, rises in graceful form, symbolising the river’s timeless journey and the unity of communities. Her cloak transforms into two embracing swans, representing love, transformation, and the connection between Drogheda, East Meath, and the wider Boyne Valley.
📸 Visit the Sculptures
Visit the Colpe roundabouts near Southgate Shopping Centre, East Meath, Drogheda and experience them in person!
Boann: “Boann, Goddess of the Boyne” – South Roundabout
Well of Wisdom Sculpture: “The Well of Wisdom” – North Roundabout
Discover the creativity behind Southgate Sculptures by visiting Breda Marron’s website: https://www.bredamarron.com/southgate. Through her unique artistic vision, Breda brings nature, community, and emotion to life in sculptural form. Explore the site to learn more about the inspiration behind each piece and the meaningful role public art plays in shaping our shared spaces.
🗓️ Project Timeline at a Glance
- 2022 – Project working group formed
- Early 2023 – Commissioning process launched with Meath County Council
- Dec 2023 – Artist Breda Marron selected
- July 2024 – Planning permission granted
- Sept 2024 – Construction begins
- July 2025 – Sculptures installed
❤️ Get Involved or Show Your Support
Visiting the sculptures?
📸 Share your photos using #SouthgateSculptures and tag DroghedaTidyTowns on Instagram or Facebook!
Hashtag: #SouthgateSculptures, #DroghedaTidyTowns, #BredaMarron
Would you like to support future community-led projects like this?
👉 Click here to get involved with Drogheda Tidy Towns
Breda Morran, Artist
Breda’s artistic vision was realised through a collaborative effort. Barry McCann and Metal Made Special handled the fabrication. Eddie Phelan and VCL Consulting provided crucial engineering expertise, while Alan Lynch of A. Lynch Construction managed the vital foundation and installation work.
Discover more of Breda Marron’s work: www.bredamarron.com
🙌 Acknowledging the Community
A heartfelt thank you to the many volunteers, residents, and community supporters who contributed their time, voices, and encouragement to this project. This is your achievement, too.
📞 Media Enquiries
For interviews, high-res images, or further information, please contact:
📧 info@droghedatidytowns.ie
📞 +353872320101
📸 High-resolution images and artist bios available on request.
droghedatidytowns.com 