Five-year campaign for garden is one step closer
PLANS FOR a Garden of Remembrance on a site at Ferrybank, overlooking the River Slaney, are progressing and campaigners Bernadette O’Leary and Lorraine Smyth have welcomed the news of local support for the project.
The two women first came up with the idea for such a garden five years ago when they held a candlelit vigil for the Furlong family, following the death of Nicola Furlong in Japan.
‘We were asked if we would do it on an annual basis afterwards but we didn’t feel it would be appropriate and we suggested working towards building a Garden of Remembrance for families who had lost young people through sad or tragic circumstances.’
Since then, the project has been under consideration and, in recent times, the women contacted former councillor Anthony Kelly to see if he could assist them in pushing the project forward.
He put them in contact with District Manager Angie Laffan and Director of Services Tony Larkin who are understood to have pledged support and funding for the project.
A number of local businesses have also offered their assistance in the construction of the garden: Kent Stainless will construct the centrepiece angel sculpture; Liam Keatly and Harry Harte are sponsoring seating; and Nolan Stonework are sculpting a stone heart and plaque.
‘We got great feedback from the community after the vigil. This has been five years coming to fruition but we’re finally making progress. We hope construction can start soon.’