Vandals have smashed one of the Bailey's CowParade 2003 statues just hours after it was erected over the weekend and two days ahead of the exhibition's official launch tomorrow.
The exhibit is one of over 100 brightly painted cows which have been placed on Dublin city centre pavements as part of a city-wide exhibition which will run until the end of September.
The vandalised statue was placed outside the EBS building on Westmoreland Street on Saturday but had been smashed by vandals less than 24 hours later.
Entitled When Cows Fly it was designed by artist Ms Amber Carter. The cow was painted silver and gold. Four foot long wings were attached but they were smashed off by vandals.
A spokeswoman for the CowParade said a special cow hospital had been set up where running repairs would be carried out to any damaged exhibits
The CowParade 2003 is sponsored by Bailey's. At the end of September the cows will be taken off city streets and will be auctioned.
Around 75 per cent of the proceeds will go to the Dublin Simon Community and the Jack and Jill Children's Foundation.
The cows are fibreglass life-size models. Each has been painted by an artist or public figure.
Artists include: John Rocha, Ronnie Wood of the Rolling Stones, Graham Knuttel, Gavin Friday and Robert Ballagh. Kevin Sharkey's Moolah, is layered with €20,000 of real euro notes.
John Rocha's Waga-Moo-Moo is encrusted with 15,000 pieces of hand-cut Waterford Crystal.
Similar CowParades have been staged in cities all over the world.
Over $7 million has been raised for different charities since the concept began in 1999.
