Irish Warrior Princess

Contributed by F E McWilliam Gallery and Studio

Commissioned by modernist architect Eugene Rosenberg, designer of Altnagelvin Hospital in Derry (the first NHS hospital to be built after WWII)the money for the sculpture of Princess Macha of the Golden Hair was raised by the Hospital Authority. The subject linked the new hospital to ancient Ireland as Macha reputedly founded the first hospital in Ireland at Eamhain Mhacha in 300BC. The dove seated on her left hand is a symbol of St Colmcille who built Derry's first infirmary at his monastery in the sixth century.

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