It then went to Derry where it was destroyed by a group of young people.

Wha’ happened?

Oh and Ithaca, as with most things The Simpsons has covered the David in boxer shorts (or jeans) angle. God help us all if a small cock was loosed upon the world…

Anyway, a bit of a delay in digging out the stuff relating to this, I will find it, however the person that has it is currently occupied with the whole back-to-school malarky and has a small baby which keeps her busy.

not to fear however, the material is there, it just needs to be found in fifteen years worth of … stuff.

Why is he carrying a branch? Maybe he was one of the Red Branch Knights…

It reminds me of a proposal some years ago that the city of Florence give to the city of Jerusalem a full scale marble copy of Michelangelo’s David to commemorate the foundation of Jerusalem by the biblical king David. It caused a great controversy in the ‘holy’ city with Islamic, Jewish and Christian fundamentalists briefly united in their determination not to be offended by the sight of a marble willie. I do not recall if the statue ever got to Jerusalem, but it was suggested that the problem might be overcome by clothing it in a giant pair of boxer shorts.

Right, the person I referred to in my email to you still has all the photos, newspaper clippings and even photos of the thing being built.

That’s fantastic. I’ll make this a little shrine to the much-wounded Wounded King.

Thanks squid.

I should have them either tomorrow or monday and will scan the lot for you.

From the description…

The Wounded King, a polychrome colossal sculpture; Limerick City Gallery; Temple Bar; Tyrone Guthrie Centre, Monaghan.

…I don’t think it actually went north of the border, as the “Tyrone Guthrie” centre is (somewhat confusingly) actually located in Monaghan.

Still no word on its current whereabouts, so I might email Mr. Smith to ask him what he remembers of “knob gate”.

and like yourself, age is getting the better of my memory, it was Tyrone, and not belfast, but it did go north of the border.

Considering the indignities he suffered at the hands of vandals, “The Wounded King” seems a fairly appropriate name for the statue. Talk about the unkindest wound of all…

I note in your email that you mention how the Daily Mirror picked up the story. Doubtless they had some crass punning headline, RE: the sliced off organ, and interviewed some local prudish crank on the subject of shameless nudity in art.

The notion of it going on tour is an intriguing one - though considering the fact that it’s mounted on wheels not that surprising. Your email mentions Belfast. Could that have been its final port of call? Had it, by then, lost any more of its bits and pieces?

By the way, it’s hard not to admire someone who’d go to the trouble of making a giant nappy for a “naked” statue.

It was constructed in either the very late eighties or very early nineties. I am thinking 1990 or 91.

Anyway, what I can remember is that it was referred to as “The Wounded King” and had been the subject of vandalism by idiots at the time. Personally I thought it was a great piece of work.

I believe it was also made of wood. Some of the things done to it were its member was removed and on one occasion someone put a giant nappy on it.

The statue went on tour and was never seen again. I have no idea where it is now, it might have even been destroyed.

A project of a similar nature, were it to take place today, would, I imagine would be more appreciated today.