THE search for the remains of Red Hugh O’Donnell continues in the Spanish city of Valladolid. The city council is carry out a final test to determine if there are more remains of the Chapel of Wonders in the inaccessible space under the Santander bank.
The Irish Chieftain died on September 10, 1602, in Simancas Castle aged 29 and was given a royal burial in the former chapel which has also housed the remains of Christopher Columbus.
According to Francis O’Donnell, a descendant of Red Hugh and author of The O’Donnell’s of Tyrconnell – A Hidden Legacy, moves are also underway to erect a sculpture in the area of the former chapel and possibly and exhibition.
“This is excellent news from Oscar Buron Rodrigo, President of the Hispano/Irish Association,” he said.
To date up to 20 sets of skeletal remains have been removed from the former chapel and are undergoing analysis at the local university. While Red Hugh was missing his big toes due to frostbite after his escape from Dublin Castle, the loss of bones from these areas of the skeletons has made identification more difficult.
Dunfanaghy-based Brendan Rohan, who was instrumental in initiating the search for his hero ancestor, suggested this week that twin statues should be made, one for Valladolid and one for Lifford (Mongevlin Castle), ancestral home of the Chieftain. To this end Valladolid Council plan to contact the Government and launch an international contest from which the commemorative figure is chosen.
“There could be great controversy over such a statue as no one actually knows what Red Hugh looked like. We know what Rory O’Donnell looked like but working with Francis O’Donnell we could come to some agreement. What we don’t want is a girly artistic impression.
“If both statues were made at the same time by the same artist when there is agreement what he looked like. A smaller 18 inch copyrighted prototype version could be done first and then the miniature copies could be readily sold all over the world.
“A combined purchase of two such pieces from the same artist’s mould should be cheaper but the ‘twinning’ that would result would have a symbolically spiritual connecting of Lifford with Valladolid,” Mr Rohan added.
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