Statue of John Mitchel

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Life-size statue of John Mitchell, executed in limestone, on a roughly dressed granite pedestal over an ashlar granite base. Ashlar limestone plaque set in pedestal reads: ‘John Mitchell 1815-1875 After twenty years in exile for the sake of Ireland he returned with honour to die among his own people and he rests with his parents in the 1st Presbyterian Old Meeting House Green at Newry.’ The statue is signed ‘D.O.’Murcu ’65’ at side. The base is semicircular, stepped to the statue at the centre and raised at each side to form a raised pavement with holes for plants.

The statue is situated at the foot of a railed and tree lined park. To its left is a listed three-storey house (HB 16/30/005), to right of which is the terraced St Colman’s Park (HB16/30/007). In front is St Mary’s (C of I) Parish Church.

Historical information

Prominent nationalist figure. Born near Dungiven, Co Londonderry, 1815; son of Rev. John Mitchel, Moderator of the Presbyterian Synod in 1822. Family settled at Dromalane House, Newry, in 1823, where he was educated. In 1840 set up as a solicitor in Banbridge. Member of the 'Young Ireland' movement, advocating Irish independence. Initially influenced by Daniel O'Connell, he went on to found, in 1848, the 'United Irishman', an anti-government newspaper in which he advocated the revolutionary creation of an independent republic. Shortly afterwards, found guilty of sedition and transported to Australia. Returned, via America, to Ireland in 1875 and became absentee MP for Tipperary. Died in the same year and buried in 1st Presbyterian Old Meeting House Graveyard, High St, Newry. Needham Place was renamed John Mitchel Place in 1919. Statue erected to his memory in 1965, the 150th anniversary of his birth.

Secondary Sources:
1. T. Canavan (1989), Frontier town: an illustrated history of Newry, pp 136-38, 160 (Belfast: Blackstaff).
2. R.P. Watson (n.d.), Cath saoirse an Iuir: Newry's struggle, pp 9-12.
3. Irish News, 30 Nov 1919.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

Tthe subject of the statue is an important figure in Irish history; the local connections with the area add to its interest, and it is one of few memorial statues erected during this period. However, it does not meet the statutory and policy tests as a building of special architectural or historic interest. However, it is a significant feature in the conservation area and this is a more appropriate level of protection.