Statues of Oscar Wilde and Eduard Vilde, Galway

On William Street in Galway city, visitors can encounter a unique and thought-provoking public artwork: two bronze statues of writers Oscar Wilde and Eduard Vilde seated together on a bench. Positioned in front of Matt O’Flaherty’s pharmacy and Lazlo’s Jewellery, the statues invite passersby to pause, reflect, and even imagine a conversation between the two literary figures.

Wilde, renowned worldwide for his wit and flamboyance, and Vilde, a celebrated Estonian novelist known for his social critiques, never met in life, yet the installation creates an imaginative encounter between these two remarkable men.

Both writers were known for their rebellious spirits. Wilde endured persecution for his sexual freedom, while Vilde openly criticized Tsarist oppression and the social injustices of his time. The Galway bench captures their contrasting yet kindred forms of defiance, presenting them in a moment of silent dialogue.

The statues also connect Galway to wider international literary legacies. Wilde is commemorated elsewhere through Danny Osborne’s sculpture in Dublin’s Merrion Square, Maggi Hambling’s piece in London, and his famous tomb in Père Lachaise Cemetery, Paris. Vilde’s statue in Galway is a copy of the original cast in 1999 in Tartu, Estonia, by sculptor Tiiu Kirsipuu, bringing a piece of Estonian cultural heritage to Ireland.

Visitors are encouraged to engage with the artwork, taking photos, sitting between the figures, or imagining the thoughts and words that might pass between them.