Rachel Joynt facts for kids

Perpetual motion

Rachel Joynt was born in 1966 in Caherciveen, County Kerry, Ireland. She is a talented Irish sculptor known for creating many important pieces of public art in Ireland. Public art is artwork displayed in public places, like parks or streets, for everyone to enjoy.

Rachel studied sculpture at the National College of Art and Design in Dublin. She graduated in 1989. Her father, Dick Joynt, was also a sculptor, so art runs in the family! Rachel often explores ideas about places, history, and nature in her artwork. She likes to show how the past is still a part of the present.

Famous Sculptures by Rachel Joynt

Rachel Joynt has created several well-known sculptures that you might see around Ireland.

People's Island (1988)

One of her early works is called People's Island. You can find it on a busy walking area near Dublin's O'Connell Bridge. This artwork features brass footprints and bird feet that seem to crisscross the ground. It shows how many different people and creatures have walked there over time.

Perpetual Motion (1995)

Rachel Joynt worked with another artist, Remco de Fouw, to create Perpetual Motion. This is a huge sphere, like a giant ball, that has road markings on it. It stands on the Naas dual carriageway, a major road. Many people say it's one of Ireland's most famous sculptures! It was even shown in a Guinness advertisement as a symbol for leaving Dublin.

Liffey Cobblestones (2005)

Rachel also designed 900 special glass cobblestones. These were placed along the edge of Dublin's River Liffey in 2005. They light up from underneath, and many of them have small bronze or silverfish shapes inside. It's like a hidden treasure hunt along the river!

Other Artworks and Collections

Rachel Joynt's art can be found in many places, both in public spaces and in art collections.

Art in Dublin

• Viking Crafts Pavement Piece: Outside Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, there's a pavement artwork that shows Viking crafts. It reminds us of Dublin's ancient Viking history.
• Solas na Glasrai (The Grocers' Light): At the corner of Moore Street and Parnell Street in Dublin, you can see a brass light pole. It's decorated with casts of fish, fruit, and vegetables, celebrating the market history of the area.
• Noah's Egg (2004): This sculpture is located outside the Veterinary School at University College Dublin (UCD) in Belfield, Dublin.
• Mothership Sculpture: You can find this interesting sculpture along the coastline in Glasthule, Dublin.

Art in Other Locations

• Marble Seat in Ennis: In Ennis, County Clare, there's a marble seat with a bronze book placed inside it. It's located at the Clare library headquarters.