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This sculpture has been made in memory of Harry Ferguson, the first Irishman to build and fly his own aeroplane. The inaugural flight took place on the 31st December 1909, lasting for 130 yards and landing near-by to Hillsborough Forest. Standing approximately 18ft tall, the model is a half scale replica of the original aeroplane and was originally situated on the A1 Dual Carriage-way just outside Royal Hillsborough. The sculpture was moved into Hillsborough Forest to become part of the new Digital Sculpture Trail, where visitors can view it more easily. Harry Ferguson became famous and went on to develop various cars and tractors, including the first Formula One four wheel drive car and the three point linkage system used on tractors to this day.
THE ARTIST: John Sherlock. Earning international recognition within just a few short years for his bronze busts of figures such as John Hume and Seamus Heaney and large-scale commissions in Ireland, Britain, France and the USA, John Sherlock was a celebrated sculptor. Had he embarked on a career as a sculptor in his twenties rather than almost 50 years later, his name would likely now feature in lists of Ireland’s most celebrated artists.
