Terry Wogan Memorial Plans Reflecting Limerick Man’s Love of a Good Chat

Terry Wogan Memorial Plans. Pictured: Richard Lynch with former Mayor of Limerick Jim Long, Sir Terry Wogan and his wife Helen Wogan at the Mayors Ball. Photo by Dolf Patjin.

Terry Wogan Memorial Plans Reflecting Limerick Man’s Love of a Good Chat

Limerick City and County Council plans to create a memorial to one of Limerick’s most famous sons, Terry Wogan, whose first anniversary occurred on Tuesday (31 January 2017).

His death in January 2016 was a shock to all his fans, with the outpouring of grief testament to the love everyone had for Terry.

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Terry Wogan, who was born in the Ennis Road, passed away in January following a battle with cancer. Terry began his long broadcasting career with RTE before moving to Britain where he started working for the BBC. He hosted the top-rated breakfast show Wake Up to Wogan, which served to reflect this Limerick man’s love for a good chat. Kieran O’Hanlon, Mayor of the City and County of Limerick, believes it may bring benefit to Limerick from a tourism perspective to erect a memorial in his honour.

Terry Wogan Memorial Plans. Pictured: Richard pictured with Terry Wogan in 2012. Picture: Dolf Patijn/ilovelimerick

Mayor O’Hanlon spoke of Terry Wogan with high regard stating, “Terry was welcomed into the homes of millions of Irish and British people either on the television or radio.  He had a very easy-going way about him, which drew people in and he made people feel they were the only person he was talking to.”

He continued to speak about the positive effect Wogan’s love for Limerick has had on the city, “He was proud to be from Limerick and a wonderful ambassador for Limerick and Ireland in Britain, at a time when it was difficult.”

“It is right for Limerick to honour him and I’m proposing a statue of Terry Wogan sitting on a bench with a microphone in hand ready to have a good ole chat.”

Over 30 artistic proposals have been received with visions for the planned sculpture to immortalise Sir Terry Wogan in his native city.

The Mayor  O’Hanlon recently confirmed that plans to erect a life-size bronze piece as part of the Terry Wogan memorial plans in honour of the BBC broadcasting legend will proceed following agreement with his family in the UK.

Mayor O’Hanlon said it was his intention to erect a sculpture, estimated to cost in the region of €50,000, on lower Thomas Street, linking with O’Connell Street.

“We have received a wonderful reaction from the public regarding the plans, with a lot of positivity. No decision has been taken as of yet regarding a final design or the chosen sculptor, but we would hope to finalise plans soon” he said.

“I have spoken to his family about the plans and will be in consultation with them again over the coming weeks,” he explained, adding that the piece could prove to be a tourist draw. “If we could get even one percent of his six million listeners to Limerick that would be fantastic. For his army of followers, it would be a pilgrimage they would have to make. We honoured him in life, we should likewise do it in his passing.”

Sheila Deegan, Arts Officer with Limerick City and County Council commented on the plans for the memorial “Terry was a broadcasting legend across Ireland and Britain.  His love of broadcasting will feed into the plans for the memorial.”

She added, “His farewell words on his last radio programme were of humility and pride and we want to capture both of those traits that he had as a broadcaster and as a proud Limerick man.”

In 2012, Richard Lynch of ILoveLimerick.com did an interview with Terry and a segment of the where Terry spoke about growing up in Limerick which was used in the official BBC Radio 2 tribute to Terry. Terry shared his fond memories and love for Limerick with Richard and ensured Richard that he would always “Keep coming back”.

To read more on Sir Terry Wogan click here

Keep up to date with Limerick City and County Council’s plans here

Watch Richard Lynch’s memorable 2012 interview with Sir Terry Wogan here: