A new commemorate statue of Queen Elizabeth II has met with widespread criticism after it was unveiled in Northern Ireland.

The bronze sculpture of the late Queen, alongside her husband Prince Philip and several of her favourite corgi dogs, now stands proud in Antrim Castle Gardens, but to most observers it bears no resemblance to the monarch, who passed away in September 2022.

The Deputy Mayor of Antrim attempted to deflect the condemnation by suggesting it should be down to “personal taste” and its importance was more about what the artistic production represented.

Tourists to the castle however were not so forgiving, with many calling for its removal and struggling to see any likeness in the figure at all.

It was created by Belfast artist Anto Brennan, who is best known for his satirical chess sets, usually of prominent Northern Irish political figures.

Ceremony attended by leading figures

The big reveal was carried out in quite a formal setting within the castle grounds, with dignitaries in attendance that included the Lord-Lieutenant of County Antrim, Mr David McCorkell, The Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, Neil Kelly and his deputy, councillor Paul Dunlop.

They described the sculpture as “one of the first of its kind in the UK” which is a view that will be shared by many, but for possibly the wrong reasons.

Greatest privilege

The sentiment behind the piece cannot be called in to question, and speaking at the ceremony, the Lord-Lieutenant said Queen Elizabeth II would “forever be remembered for a life dedicated to duty”.

He added that seeing the statues alongside each other protected her legacy as the longest ever reigning monarch, and meant she would be remembered by future generations, and also he suggested it would reminds everyone of the “bond between her and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh.”

He went on to say it was his “greatest privilege to have been Her Majesty’s humble servant and may she rest in peace.”

“Beautiful” viewpoint not universally shared

The Mayor remarked that he thought the statue to be “beautiful” and it would serve as a a tribute not only to the Queen’s “extraordinary life and reign, but also to her deep connection with the people of our borough.”

Mr Dunlop accepted that people were entitled to their own opinion’s, but was keen to stress that its representation was all that really mattered.

Reviews far from complimentary

Nevertheless, with all that said, there was no escaping the fact that the resemblance left a lot to be desired.

Reviews on social media were particularly damning, with suggestions that “whoever signed it off would be well advised to have an eyesight test.

Tourists at the gardens tried to be respectful, but felt it should be removed as it did nothing in regard to preserving the memory of Her Majesty.

Major restoration

Antrim Castle Gardens are regarded as something of a hidden gem in Northern Ireland, although a major restoration project costing around £6m has certainly lifted its profile.

The grounds are magnificent and offer visitors a “unique experience” according to the official guidebook. 

No satire intended

The artist/sculptor, Anthony ‘Anto’ Brennan, is actually celebrated in Northern Ireland for his past work in which he specialises in of all things… satirical chess boards and more specifically, their pieces.

One particular set was created from the “Good Friday Agreement” era. Individuals such as: Tony Blair, Bertie Ahern, Ian Paisley, Martin McGuinness, Gerry Adams, and Dr Mo Mowlam, all feature.

Very talented man, but speciality is much smaller pieces

He makes them to order, so no two sets are exactly the same, and he has also created different themed pieces, including some centred around the war in Afghanistan and even the tragic sinking of the Titanic.

He pitches the figures as opponents against each other, representing the theme in question.

Mr Brennan has always insisted that his inspiration came from his interest in politics and his opinion was that it always seemed like a big game of chess, with politicians constantly trying to out-manoeuvre each other.

The irony of it however, is that Mr Brennan does not know how to play the game.

Amongst his other work are sculptures of shipyard workers standing eight feet high commissioned for a nightclub in Belfast city centre; and a collection of 18 leprechauns.