Thought Fountain

“Thought Fountain” is site-specific public artwork for Strokestown, Co. Roscommon. Designed as an elegant and poetic stainless steel sculpture to celebrate the town’s life, heritage, and architectural story. The tilted opening of the cone is a reference to the Irish for Strokestown -Béal Atha na mBuillí, (mouth of the ford of the strokes). The sculpture will be comprised of a spiralling ribbon of stainless steel letters that emerge from the ground like a spring of thought, rising at a gentle angle and drawing viewers into a contemplative experience.

The text for the  artwork will be co-created via arts participation with local community groups through a series of creative writing workshops led by poet Noelle Lynskey, whose deep roots in Strokestown and extensive experience in arts participation will ensure an authentic and inclusive engagement process. The resulting poetic fragments reflecting the lived experiences, stories, and dreams of the people will be embedded in the ribbons of text that form the final output for the “Thought Fountain” sculpture.

Commissioned by: Roscommon Co Council Percent for Art Public Realm Enhancement.

Year: Awarder 2025 Due for competition 2026

Curated by: Mary Smyth Public Art Officer

Collaboration: Noelle Lynskey Poet, creative engagement with Strokestown community.

Computational Design: Nigel Baldichinno (France)