Although born in Derry, Heffernan worked in Cork for some years and his work can still be seen around the city. He made a memorial to Dr. McCarthy for the Catholic South Chapel, and for the Protestant Bishop of Cloyne in Cloyne Cathedral. He may have had some influence upon the young John Hogan. The restaurant in the Crawford is presently graced by three of his charming figure sculptures.

James Heffernan was born in Derry in 1785, the son of a marble-carver who was working for the Bishop of Derry. He was only eleven when his father died, but the Bishop apprenticed him with Cork architect Michael Shanahan who was employed in Derry. When Shanahan returned to Cork, Heffernan accompanied him, and began to study architecture and drawing, and to work in the architect's marble works. In carving tomb-stones and chimney-pieces here he resolved to become a sculptor rather than a painter. In c.1807, at the age of twenty-two, he left Cork for London. He worked with Rossi the sculptor, then in the studio of Chantrey, and became a student at the Royal Academy. Here he won several prizes and medals. After a brief visit to Rome, Heffernan returned to London, working as an assistant to Chantrey again. He exhibited his own sculptures, mainly figures and subject-groups, (such as Prometheus, The Rape of Prosperpine, Cupid and Psyche and The Deserted Mother), and some portrait busts at the RA 1816-30. At the RA of 1825 a reviewer praised two of his pieces Susannah at the Bath and a marble bust as full of promise, the work of:-

"a young and rising artist of considerable genius....standing fair for the highest rank of his profession." (Strickland)

He continued to work with Chantrey until 1841, and completed his unfinished pieces after his death.

However, Heffernan was suffering from ill-health. He retired to Cork to live in a cottage by the River Lee. He was no longer able to work at sculpture, but made sketches and illustrations. He died on 21st October, 1847.

Ref: A Dictionary of Irish Artists by W.G. Strickland, Vol.1
John Hogan by John Turpin, 1982
National Gallery of Ireland. Acquisitions 1982-1983