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KERRY’S newest interactive tourist attraction, a 12ft druid, has been welcomed to its new home; the aptly named Druid’s View at Molly Gallivan’s Cottage and Traditional Farm in Bonane.

The imposing and impressive Druid figure is the result of an exciting collaboration between two West Cork artists, wood sculptor Anthony Cornforth and metal sculptor Peter Little.

Commissioned by Kerry County Council, the piece replaces a smaller existing druid carved by Anthony in 2002 which had to be removed during recent road improvement works.

The original druid was commissioned by Stephen and Frances O’Sullivan, owners of family-run Molly Gallivan’s Visitor Centre.

Located between Kenmare and Glengarriff on the Beara Peninsula, the druid represents the first settlers in the Sheen Valley more than 6000 years ago.

It is carved from the trunk of a large Monterey cypress tree and cloaked in copper.

To enable visitors to interact and engage with the sculpture, a camera has been placed on the druid’s staff. Visitors can look through an eyepiece enclosed in the druid’s cloak and share in the “druid’s view”.

The druid looks across Sheen valley to the highest peak “Barra-Bui”, where a Cairn on the summit marks the resting place of an ancient Chieftain.

The camera will soon be linked to Molly Gallivan’s website and visitors can upload their photos taken with the druid to the attraction’s popular Facebook page. The photos posted to Facebook announcing the arrival of the new druid have already received over 7000 views.

“We’re delighted with the new and enhanced druid,” stated Stephen and Frances O’Sullivan. “It has been an iconic landmark for Molly Gallivans and Kerry for many years. The feedback from our visitors is that they love the ability to interact with the new sculpture and see what the druid sees.”

Anthony and Peter are known individually in the West Cork region and beyond for their sculptures. This was a first time collaboration for the pair and they are keen to work together in the future. A bio for each artist is included below for reference.

For further information on the druid sculpture, contact Anthony Cornforth on +353 (0)86 392 2129 or ajc-64@hotmail.com