Talking statues

Many years ago, a young sculptor, John Behan, was inspired by playwright Tom Murphy's work, Famine

Many years ago, a young sculptor, John Behan, was inspired by playwright Tom Murphy's work, Famine. Last Tuesday, as Tom's new play, The Wake, went into production, John showed his appreciation by presenting him with one of his sculptures called Famine Ship at a reception at the Abbey Theatre. If the piece looked familiar to many it was because it was based on John's National Famine Memorial in Murrisk, Co Mayo which was unveiled last July by former President, Mrs Robinson.

Tom was delighted with the piece, which will join his three other Behan sculptures, one of which - Raftery - he said he speaks to every day. The reception was peopled with a new wave of arts personnel - PR folk such as Madeline Boughton, who is moving from the Project in the New Year and Gilly Clarke, who previously worked on the Dublin Theatre Festival fringe, and new Abbey staff director, Jason Byrne. Meanwhile, Gilly's partner Willy White, a former colleague of Jason's in the Loose Cannon theatre company, appeared on RTE as presenter of the groovy new discussion programme, Later On 2.