'Floozie' finds new home

Dublin's Floozie in the Jacuzzi has found a new home - albeit without her jacuzzi.

The Anna Livia fountain, which has lain in a crate in St Anne's Park in north Dublin for three years, after being removed from its 13-year residency in Upper O'Connell Street, is to be moved to a pond in the Croppy Memorial Gardens, in front of the Ashling Hotel, near Heuston Station.

The statue, which was donated to the city by the businessman Dr Michael Smurfit to mark Dublin's millennium year is to be moved some time in the new year.

The decision was taken by the city council's Public Art Advisory Group, on the recommendation of council officials yesterday.

A council spokesman, Mr Mark Gilligan, said the small public park was in an area of Dublin which was currently undergoing a lot of residential development and rejuvenation.

The park already has a water feature, "a pond", said Mr Gilligan and, pending some modifications to make her sit up straight without her surrounding fountain, the "floozie" will be installed there by her creator, the sculptor Mr Eamon O'Doherty.

While she may not have her ornate walled surround beloved of those with time on their hands, Mr Gilligan said it was appropriate that she would be returning to a water feature.