PLANS ARE ON track in Cork for new statues to honour rugby stars Ronan O’Gara and Peter Stringer.
City manager Tim Lucey told councillors on Leeside last night that the Council was currently in the process of identifying potential sites.
The plan has been mooted for some time with the local representatives saying initially that the O’Gara and Stringer statues could be the first step in the creation of a new ‘sporting heritage trail’ on Leeside.
“We feel it’s very appropriate that we celebrate Cork’s sporting heritage,” Cllr Terry Shannon told TheScore.ie when plans first emerged. “Cork is well known as a great sporting city. Over the years, we’ve had Roy Keane, athletes like Sonia O’Sullivan and a whole load of GAA stars.
“The proposal to build these statues fits in very nicely with our image of the city and with the council’s own tourism policy. It’s possible that this project could be the first step in a series of statues which would form a trail to celebrate all of the city’s sports stars – Roy, Sonia, the whole lot.”
O’Gara only retired from playing rugby in recent months and is set to take up a coaching role with Racing Metro next season. Peter Stringer — who partnered O’Gara for years with PBC, Munster and Ireland — is currently plying his trade in England.
