Father Pat Noise
Father Pat Noise
Located on O Connell Bridge in Dublin Ireland (53.34725,-6.259217) this must be my favourite plaque anywhere.
In the lead up to Dublin’s millennium celebrations, It was decided to install a “millennium clock” in the River Liffey. This was a large digital clock submerged in the river counting down the seconds to the year 2000. Along with viewing the clock, a passer by could purchase a postcard with the countdown time printed on it from a booth on O’Connell Bridge. From the outset this project was plagued by problems – the visibility was poor, the clock was frequently wrong and it leaked. Shortly after it was installed, the clock was removed and never seen again. The only trace of this fiasco was a rectangular indent in the iconic bridge.
In 2004, the indent was filled with this wonderful plaque commemorating the death of Fr Pat Noise. After much speculation, the plaque was eventually unveiled as a hoax by a journalist for the Sunday Tribune. Dublin City Council stated plaque would be removed, as it was unauthorised. Several Dubliners left floral tributes and messages at the plaque location. A meeting of the South East Area Committee of the Council then supported leaving it in place.
The plaque was removed in early 2007 during restoration work on O’Connell Bridge, but a second plaque appeared mysteriously soon after. On 22 May 2007, Dublin City Council engineers intended to remove the plaque, but were stopped by City Councillor who insisted the Council’s order should stand.
The plaque remains in situ today, puzzling many tourists who are not “in” on the joke.