Ford Model T Monument

Ballinascarthy was the birthplace of Henry Ford’s father, William, and the village is incredibly proud of its connection to the motoring empire. At 21, William emigrated to Dearborn, Michigan USA. He left during the great Famine in 1847 to join other members of his family in America. The sculptured stainless steel replica of the iconic vehicle was the work of locals — the memorial stone base was designed by Quentin Keohan and sculptor Kevin Holland crafted the life-sized model. The stone-cut memorial site was constructed by local builder Tom Harte. The project, organised by Ballinascarthy Community Council, cost around £40,000.