In June 2008 I was commissioned by the city of San José, California, to make a sculpture in honor of the sister city relationship with Dublin, Ireland.  The sculpture was to be presented to the Lord Mayor of Dublin by San José’s City Council on a sister city diplomatic visit. 

The piece was to contain elements representing each city.  For San José we chose roses to represent the historic rose gardens, and in bud form to represent the continuous buds of innovation and creativity in Silicon Valley.  Contrary to the lore of the lucky 4-leaf clover, shamrocks are actually tri-foliate.  The early Celts of Wales held white clover in high esteem as a charm against evil spirits.  According to historical accounts, Saint Patrick used the plant to illustrate the doctrine of the Holy Trinity.  Shamrocks have since been considered good luck symbols. 

If made in actual size, the shamrocks for the sculpture would have been tiny.  I did not want the rose buds to overpower the shamrocks in the sculpture, nor did I want the shamrocks in a supporting role.  To honor the sister city relationship and represent the two cities in an equal relationship, I made the shamrocks over-sized.  I titled the piece “Sisters and Friends – Dublin and San José.

San José Councilmembers Nancy Pyle and Forrest Williams presented “Sisters and Friends” to Dublin Lord Mayor, Councilor Eibhlin Byrne.  They reside in the Mansion House, the official residence of the Lord Mayor.