Brown Bull of Cooley sculpture on M1 outside Dundalk set for repairs

Louth County Council has confirmed that is has instructed repair works to be carried out on the iconic Brown Bull of Cooley sculpture along the M1 motorway.

The sculpture, which stands along the motorway outside Dundalk has been impacted by recent storms and wind damage.

Known as ‘An Tarbh Donn’, the stainless steel structure was commissioned to mark the opening of the M1 outside Dundalk in 2005. The three metre high bull was directly inspired by the ancient heritage of north Louth, and the Bull in the Táin Bó Cúailnge. 

It was positioned on a concrete base looking towards the Cooley Peninsula, and has become a unique Louth landmark over the last three decades.

Sadly, the bull was damaged during an apparent attempted theft in 2013, which led to Louth County Council removing the sculpture for a time, so that much needed off site repairs could be completed. It was then returned to the Balriggan townland site in 2014.

Over the last nine years the exposed hill top position has, however, left the sculpture entirely exposed to the severe elements, and the impact of storms.  

High winds during the recent ‘Storm Debi’ led to the bull being razed from his stand, and the body  of the sculpture coming to rest on the ground.

Louth County Council engineers are now leading an operation to have the bull, which weighs upward of one tonne, raised up and and reset upon his steel hooves.

The planned remedial work will not affect the motorway traffic and there are no expected closures of the M1 needed while the repairs are being conducted.

Specialist stainless steel fabricators will also be deployed to strengthen the base of the structure, and firmly secure it back in place.

The local authority says that these remedial works will take place in the coming months.