A monument commemorating a famous Clonmel-born novelist has been restored and returned to its original location on the riverside in the town, four years after it was damaged and removed during the Flood Relief Scheme.The installation pays homage to Laurence Sterne, the novelist and Anglican clergyman born in Clonmel in 1713 who’s best known for his novel The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman.
The installation comprises four individual columns of stone that stand on their own right. Each piece also has a bronze plaque on top and when viewed through a specially-designed hole the plaques align to form an image of Sterne’s face.The sculpture was installed in 2004 but was damaged in 2008 during the first phase of the Flood Relief Scheme. It was taken away to the County Museum for safe keeping until it was restored.