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10 Dec 2025
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10 Dec 2025
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THE official unveiling of a statue dedicated to Grace O'Malley, the Pirate Queen, will take place in Newport in January.
A statue in honour of Grace O’Malley, also known as Gráinne Uaile was recently installed at Medlicott Street at the entrance to the town and will be officially unveiled on January 13.
The statue is part of the campaign by the Newport Business Association to promote the west Mayo town as the town of the 'Two Graces' and will compliment the statue dedicated to Grace Kelly, Princess of Monaco which was unveiled last March.
The statue of Grace O'Malley was designed and sculptured by Killasser-based sculptor Mark Rode, who also sculpted the statue of Grace Kelly. The new statue depicts the Pirate Queen at the bow of her boat pointing out on Clew Bay and will be a focal point at the entrance to the town for traffic coming from the Westport side of town.
The campaign to promote Newport as the town of the 'Two Graces' was launched by the Newport Business Association in 2017 in order not only to celebrate the town's association with the two iconic females but also to increase revenue for the town in the form of increased tourism activity.
The project was described as a huge undertaking by the Newport Business Association who were aided by the support of Leader funding from Mayo South West, Mayo County Council, local councillors and also from fundraising locally.
The campaign to be known as the town of the two Graces received a huge boost in publicity when Prince Albert of Monaco, son of Princess Grace agreed to officially unveil the statue to his mother in March. Huge crowds attended the official opening of the statue which was reported in both the national and international media.
This statue depicts the late Grace Kelly sitting on a bench located on Castlebar Street close to the famous viaduct bridge overlooking Clew Bay. It has already become an attraction for tourists visiting the region and led to increased footfall in the town over the summer months.
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