Last wreath-laying at FCA Hall garden

THE last ever wreath-laying ceremony at the FCA Hall Memorial Garden takes place on Saturday as Wicklow County Council plans to turn the site into seven social housing units.

A wreath-laying ceremony in remembrance of deceased family members and comrades has taken place at the FCA garden for over 34 years.

The site was purchased by Wicklow County Council recently and has been earmarked as the ideal location for seven social housing units, costing €1,233,754.

The Local Authority has promised to relocate the garden elsewhere but Saturday represents the final time the wreath laying ceremony will take place at the current FCA garden.

Former Defence Forces member, Timmy Doyle, said: ‘It will be a sad day. Myself, my brother Robert, Pat Ferguson and Brendan Flynn actually all created the garden.

‘The canons were being used as mooring posts down at the quays and we got permission from the port company to dig them up and place them in the garden.

‘We all have great memories of the FCA Hall. Two of my brothers who were also members died tragically so my family always come out for the ceremony. It means a lot to us.’

‘We had a meeting with the council to see if they could leave the garden there but they can’t. It’s a great pity and we are still saying ‘could you look for somewhere else’ [for the housing units] but it doesn’t look like it will happen. The council believe the FCA Hall site is the ideal location for housing.’

As many members of the 21st Battalion, 62 No Battalion FCA or any ex-service men or women are encouraged to attend as possible.

This year wreaths will be laid by five families who have lost loved ones in the last twelve months, Comdt Harry Jordan, Sgt Jimmy Cleary and Sgt John Flynn of Wicklow town, Comdt Kevin Brown of Dun Laoghaire and Sgt TP Brady of Arklow.

They will be joined on the day by the IUNVA, St Patrick’s Pipe Band, Wicklow Fire Brigade, RNLI and other local organisations.

There will be a short ecumenical prayer service at 1 p.m. attended by local church leaders. Refreshments will be served afterwards in the hall.