Navan’s Bull sculpture to be replaced by ‘cash cow’ water fountain

By Thos Coyne

Plans are in full flow to remove the iconic Bull sculpture on Navan’s Market Square and replace it with a roundabout and ornate new water fountain that planners hope will become as popular as Rome’s iconic Trevi fountain.

The ambitious new water feature will be the last element of the Navan 2030 Streetscape Scheme which has been transforming Navan in recent years and Meath County Council bosses are hoping the fountain will attract visitors from near and far.

Market Square will also be reconfigured to accommodate the fountain – already dubbed by some locals as ‘The Squirt on the Square’ – with a roundabout. Traffic from Timmons Hill will enter the Square and go around the roundabout to exit via Watergate St while buses and taxis will still pass unhindered from Ludlow St to Kennedy Road.

The fountain, complete with gushing water spouts as its centrepiece, will have some public seating around it and be accessible via pedestrian crossings from all sides of the Square.

The fountain will feature sculptures of yet to be confirmed famous Meath natives with names such as Pierce Brosnan, Tommy Tiernan, Nina Carberry, Hector O’hEochagain and Sharon Horgan all being mooted to be immortalised in stone.

In an innovative move council chiefs hope the new installation will be paid for in part by the coins thrown into the fountain by passersby.

An estimated €3,000 is thrown into the 18th century Trevi fountain each day and while council chiefs are not expecting that level of return in Navan, they are hopeful that locals and visitors alike will pick up the superstition associated with the Rome fountain being that whoever makes the gesture would favour a future return to the city.

In Rome, coins are thrown while turning one’s back to the famous fountain, using the right hand over the left shoulder.

A council spokesperson said they would not be promoting that “style of throwing” for fear of local business premises windows being broken or “someone losing and eye”.

“The throw technique would have to go before a full meeting of the council but planners believe the straightforward thumb flick forward will be the best method.”

Cllrs are also expected to rule that only €1 and €2 coins be flicked to aviod “small denomination shrapnel” polluting the water and wasting the time of council collection staff.

Water for the new fountain will be pumped directly from the River Boyne while the new feature will also be lit up green and gold at night.

Cllrs may also get to vote on a change of name for the town centrepoint with one local rep remarking: “It seems foolish to call it Market Square after this, it will have to be called Market Circle if we have a roundabout.”

It’s also believed Navan town councillors are anxious that the Bull sculpture be moved to a prominent new location outside the town.

One councillor told the Chronicle that the Bull – which has been on its plinth in Market Square since 2011 following nine years of controversy over the cost of the project and the proposed location – should be placed out near Bective “facing Navan but with its arse firmly to Trim”.

Plans for the new fountain and roundabout are on display from today (1st April) at the council offices.