Ghost Horses from the Bog (2013) by Lynn Kirkham is a striking public sculpture located at the Nurney Roundabout near Kildare Town. The artwork consists of four horse sculptures carved from ancient bog oak sourced from the nearby Bog of Allen. Each horse represents a different stage of a gallop, creating a powerful sense of movement and energy as viewers pass the work. The equine theme celebrates County Kildare’s long association with horse breeding and racing, reflecting the county’s status as the home of the Irish National Stud and its internationally renowned equestrian heritage. Crafted at Kirkham’s studio on Bere Island, County Cork, the sculptures connect the natural history of the bog landscape with one of Kildare’s defining cultural identities. By transforming ancient bog oak into dynamic equine forms, Ghost Horses from the Bog evokes both the passage of time and the enduring relationship between landscape, history and local tradition. The work has become a distinctive landmark, welcoming visitors to Kildare while celebrating the beauty, strength and spirit of the horse.
Ghost Horses from the Bog by Lynn Kirkham, Kildare Town, 2013
