Lord Edward Fitzgerald 1798 Commemorative Statue (1998) by Annette McCormack stands in Market Square, Kildare Town, commemorating one of the county’s most significant historical figures. Commissioned during the bicentenary of the 1798 Rebellion, the sculpture honours Lord Edward Fitzgerald, the United Irishman leader who became a symbol of the struggle for Irish independence and political reform. Born at nearby Carton House in County Kildare in 1763, Fitzgerald abandoned a promising military and political career to become a leading figure in the Society of United Irishmen. He advocated for religious equality and an independent Irish republic, and played a central role in the plans for the 1798 Rising before his death in June of that year. Annette McCormack’s sculpture serves as both a memorial and a focal point for public remembrance in Kildare Town. Through its prominent civic setting, the work connects the town with its revolutionary heritage and invites reflection on the ideals of liberty, equality and national identity that inspired the events of 1798.
Lord Edward Fitzgerald by Annette McCormack, Kildare, 1998
