Colorado James Joyce statue sculptor shocked by metal theft

Image: CBS4

The Irish sculptor behind the statue of James Joyce in a Colorado University, has described the theft of US$30,000 (€22,000) worth of bronze from the piece as "a terrible shame".

But Rowan Gillespie, who lives in Dublin, has vowed to restore his sculpture at Regis University to its former glory, telling WorldIrish that "Joyce can't be left without his words"

Police in Denver are appealing for witnesses after nine metal plates, featuring quotes from Ulysses, went missing from the installation at the end of last month.

A further nine plates, which were left behind, have been placed in storage while the investigation is ongoing.

Rowan says he hopes that those responsible for the crime will have a change of heart:

It is awful, thefts of bronze like this are happening all over the world due to the enormous increase in the value of copper, however this is the first time that anything of mine has been stolen. I do hope that they are either found or returned, although at this stage that seems somewhat unlikely.

The piece, entitled 'Ripples of Ulysses', was designed by Rowan in 2001 - four years after he completed the famous famine memorial in Dublin.

He has promised to help replace the missing plates:

Joyce can’t be left without his words, so apart from the cost of the bronze it is going to take me months of hard work to replace them and then there is the reinstallation … and also the worry that it could happen again … it’s a terrible shame.