My fellow Alliance Holywood Councillor Larry Thompson and I are delighted following the recent decision by NI Environment Agency to abandon plans to de-list
the iconic Johnny the Jig statue in Holywood, Co. Down.
Commenting on the development,
Cllr Thompson stated “Following extensive lobbying by Cllr Muir and I, Holywood
Conservation Group, North Down Borough Council, Historic Buildings Council,
Ulster Architectural Heritage Trust and many concerned residents I am delighted
that the NIEA has reconsidered their proposal and abandon plans to delist the
statue. Without this protection the statue may have faced an uncertain future
similar to other monuments across Northern Ireland which, over time, have
either been destroyed or left to rot in storage warehouses.”
Concluding, Cllr
Thompson stated “Johnny the Jig is an iconic statue by Rosamond Praeger, a well
loved and respected local artist, which forms part of Holywood’s identity and
will thankfully remain in place, protected in law. I would like to pay tribute
to the Holywood Conservation Group for all their considerable work in helping
to save Johnny the Jig from delisting."
Detailing the reasons to
retain the statue as a listed structure, NI Environment Agency have stated: “We
were persuaded to change our assessment by the level of local interest in the
structure and the obvious significance it has for the people of Holywood and
North Down”. NIEA previously described the statue as ‘a minor work of art with
no special interest’.
When I learned about plans to de-list Johnny the Jig I immediately initiated a
strong campaign to Save the Statue securing a meeting with top officials at
NIEA and constantly lobbying them to abandon their scandalous plans to remove the
protection afforded via listed status. NIEA’s decision is proof that a vigorous
campaign can deliver results.
Whilst I am also delighted that the statue has been saved I will
continue to work to save Holywood’s Heritage to ensure the Town remains an
extremely attractive place to work, live or visit.
Johnny
the Jig is a bronze figure of a boy playing an accordion and the work of local
sculptress Sophia Rosamond Praeger, MBE, HRHA, MA (1867 - 1954). Her delightful
bronze statue of a youngster playing the accordion was cast as a gift to the
town and erected in 1953. It was created to commemorate a local Boy Scout named
Fergus Morton who was killed in a road accident while doing ‘Bob a Job’
in 1952.
