Ireland Park Monument
Specialty Glass Bricks for the Ireland Park Monument
Jeannette Specialty Glass created a custom designed glass brick to create
a monumental lighting masterpiece.
Download our Ireland
Park Monument flyer (PDF) for more information, or
contact JSG today. (Adobe Reader
Required.)
The making of Ireland Park dates back 11 years when Robert G. Kearns first
viewed Rowan Gillespie's "Departure" series of famine figures in Dublin.
These sculptures were donated by Norma Smurfit of the Foundation to the
citizens of Dublin in 1997 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the
famine. These seven sculptures along with the glass brick monument stand on
the Liffey quayside and depict Irish famine immigrants looking out towards
the sea, awaiting their departure on famine ships to take them to a new
land. It was always the wish of Rowan Gillespie and Norma Smurfit to have a
reciprocal memorial in North America that would reflect the journey the
immigrants took to those new lands, hence "The Arrival."
Lighting Designers were looking for a durable transparent building block
to be coordinated with LED lights to construct this monumental masterpiece
to symbolize a fresh start for the Irish community. Their choice to go with
Jeannette Specialty Glass's borosilicate glass was due to the unmatched
qualities of their Hard Roc glass; chemical, stain, scratch and thermal
shock resistant. Designers worked with our team of glass specialists to
design a one-of-a-kind 12" x 4" x 2" thick brick. This brick was
specifically molded with a radius to produce a circular column, creating a
unique look from all angles. The circular structure was uniquely designed
to produce the extracting LED lighting to all angles, creating a magnificent
glow unlike any other.
Jeannette Specialty Glass products' distinct and durable properties of
borosilicate glass, enables each glass brick to withstand the harshest of
elements, much like the famine Irish seeking refuge in Toronto. Their
spirit and determination continued on in the hardest of times. Our durable
glass products can repel environmental and chemical corrosion, as well as
being resistant to the sun's UV rays, preventing discoloration of the glass
while it retains its luminescent color after years of being exposed to the
outdoor elements.
Standing approximately six meters in height, the illuminated cylinder of
stacked glass will be a distinctive feature of Ireland Park. A symbolic
beacon of the 'New World' and the immigrants' hopefulness for the future.
The Ireland Park Foundation now makes it possible for you to share in this
exquisite memorial. By contributing $100 to the foundation you are able to
purchase a glass brick which will form the basic building blocks of the
glass tower. Symbolize your memories of loved ones by displaying their name
on a brick on their website's virtual brick tower.
Contact Jeannette Specialty Glass today to
learn how our strength in custom glass development and our proprietary glass
formulas can assure the success of your landmark project.
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