Post your letter with the new Polestar stamp

RESIDENTS and visitors to Letterkenny alike have, since 2006, enjoyed the view of the iconic Polestar monument as they pass through the town.

And now anyone sending a letter in Ireland can appreciate the artwork by choosing the Polestar stamp for their postage.

An Post have issued a new ‘public art’ stamp booklet that celebrates Ireland’s vibrant public art scene which consists of thousands of public artworks, and the Polestar has been selected as one of just four pieces to feature on this prestigious series.

This series of stamps aims to introduce major works by important Irish artists to the wider public. The Polestar sculpture was created by multi-award winning artist and Derry man Locky Morris and has since acquired the status as one of Letterkenny’s most recognisable symbols.

It is comprised of 104 timber poles and stands at 12 metres tall on the Port Bridge roundabout.

It is said to represent train tracks and its shape also resembles the hull of a ship, a nod to the modes of transport from Letterkenny’s trading history.

The other three sculptures to be featured in the booklet which comprises four ‘N’ rate national stamps covering postage all over the island of Ireland, include Perpetual Motion in Kildare, Riders and Horses in Cork and Tallaght X in Dublin.

Since 1976 when the government initiative Per Cent for Arts scheme was established by the OPW, up to one percent of public construction budgets goes to art commission.

Director of Combined Arts at The Arts Council of Ireland, Sinéad O’Reilly said “Public art responds to and adds value to how we connect as people to each other and to our places and public spaces.

It is wonderful that An Post have chosen to celebrate a number of iconic public art works through this stamp collection”.

The booklet costs €5.60 and is available in selected post offices nationwide and online at www.anpost.com/shop

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