Sunday, July 20, 2008

Irish Ned Kelly monument planned

A run-down cottage in Ireland is to become a new Ned Kelly tourist destination.

Ned's father John 'Red' Kelly was transported to Australia after stealing two pigs from a farm at Ballysheehan in Tipperary in 1840.

Now the scene of the crime will become an ambitious monument to the Kellys, with the cottage being restored.

The remains of the cottage will be surrounded by what organisers say will be a "modern interpretation of a convict transport ship" and a four-storey replica of Ned Kelly's famous helmet will be built at one end.

The man behind the idea, Irish human rights barrister Brendan Kilty SC, says audio-visual displays will tell the full Kelly story.

"Not only of the Kelly gang, but of the policemen involved as well, because it's both sides of a very Irish story," he said.

"Ultimately the story will explain that the hunt for Kelly in Victoria was the playing out in Australia of the Irish land war agitation that was going on around the 1800s.

"In the bow of the ship, we will have an audio-visual theatre, and the bow and the stern will be connected by an elevated corridor along which the Jerilderie letter will be fully displayed."

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