Kindred Spirits, Steel sculpture in Bailick Park, Midleton, Ireland
Kindred Spirits is a stainless steel memorial in Bailick Park, south of Midleton town centre in County Cork. Nine polished feathers form a bowl-shaped figure rising about 20 feet (6 m) into the air and standing out against the Irish sky.
The sculpture was unveiled in 2017, exactly 170 years after the Choctaw Nation made its donation during the Great Famine. That community had itself endured the Trail of Tears before helping Irish families in need.
The name refers to the gesture made by the Choctaw Nation, who offered help despite having endured forced relocation themselves. The eagle feathers carry spiritual meaning in Native American traditions and appear here as a sign of compassion reaching across the Atlantic.
The park sits a short walk from the centre of Midleton and offers parking near the memorial. Information panels on site explain the link between Ireland and the Choctaw Nation for visitors who want to learn more.
Each of the nine feathers was crafted individually in a workshop in Cork and welded together over several months. The finished work weighs several tons and required special lifting equipment for installation in the park.
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