Dublin in County Dublin, Leinster, Ireland — Mid-East (and Dublin)

Éire by Jerome Connor

1876–1943

Photographed by Ian Lefkowitz, May 18, 2026

1. Éire by Jerome Connor Marker

Inscription. This sculpture was presented by Joseph Downes and Son Ltd. in December 1976 to commemorate the centenary of the Butterkrust Bakery, Dublin, and honour its founder Sir Joseph Downes, J.P., High Sheriff of Dublin. Also to record appreciation for the support of many generations of Dubliners and for the enjoyment of the citizens of this city and all passers by.

Erected 1976 by Joseph Downes and Son Ltd.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Arts, Letters, Music • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1876.

Location. 53° 20.372′ N, 6° 14.808′ W. Marker is in Dublin, Leinster, in County Dublin. It can be reached from the intersection of Merrion Square East and Merrion Square North, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 35 Merrion Square E, Dublin, Leinster, Ireland. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Ancient East.

Globally, it is on the Atlantic Ocean,

in the North Atlantic Region,

in Europe,

on the Island of Ireland,

on the Celtic Fringe,

in the European Union,

in Atlantic Europe,

on one of the British Isles,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Sir William Robert Wills Wilde (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Oscar Wilde House

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

(approx. 0.3 kilometers away); National Memorial to members of the Defence Forces (approx. 0.3 kilometers away but has been replaced with another marker now near it); An Dún Cuimhneacháin / National Memorial to Members of the Defence Forces (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Birthplace of the 1st Duke of Wellington (approx. 0.4 kilometers away); George Francis FitzGerald (approx. half a kilometer away); Sir Richard Griffith (approx. 0.6 kilometers away); The Huguenot Cemetery (approx. 0.6 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Dublin.

Also see . . .
1. Éire Memorial.

Sculpture of the allegorical figure of Éire holding a harp seated on a rock.

The sculpture was O'Connor's proposal for a memorial to the Kerry poets, which was to commemorate four leading Gaelic poets of the 17th and 18th centuries at Killarney. It was not executed and was cast only in 1974 funded by Joseph Downs & Sons Ltd to commemorate the centenary of Butter Krust Bakery.

(Submitted on August 3, 2026, by Ian Lefkowitz of New York, New York.)

2. Marta Minujin, The James Joyce Tower in Bread.

At 7am on 30 August, a fleet
Photographed by Ian Lefkowitz, May 18, 2026

2. Éire Sculpture
The sculpture features the allegorical figure of Éire with a harp.
of vans arrived, carrying 5,000 freshly baked loaves of Butterkrust bread from Edmund Downes’ bakery, a much loved local shop referred to by James Joyce in Dubliners (1914). Fire engines followed in their wake, and employees of the bakery ran up and down a portable scaffold system erected by fire fighters, attaching each loaf to an enormous metal structure measuring 8.5 metres high, 11 metres across, which took the form of a Martello tower (another Joycean reference, this one from Ulysses, 1922).

(Submitted on August 3, 2026, by Ian Lefkowitz of New York, New York.)

Credits. This page was last revised on August 4, 2026. It was originally submitted on August 3, 2026, by Ian Lefkowitz of New York, New York. This page has been viewed 6 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 3, 2026, by Ian Lefkowitz of New York, New York. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.