New seats in Stanley Garden
DROGHEDA Gardening Club recently linked up with the local Tidy Towns Committee to provide two new benches at the Joseph Stanley 1916 Memorial Garden at the Buttergate. The Club provided funds to fund benches which is in memory of two of its most respected founder members, Peggy O’Reilly and Eugene Byrne.
The Gardening Club and Tidy Towns agreed on the 1916 Garden for siting the benches, as Peggy O’Reilly not was not only a founder member of the Gardening Club, but she also had a huge passion for Drogheda and its heritage. She had a keen interest in John Boyle O’Reilly as well as the Old Drogheda Society.
Eugene Byrne lived for many years on top of Highfield hill, where his children spent many years playing on the banks visible from the bench in the 1916 garden.
Eugene’s wife Joan, daughter Dara and granddaughter Alexandra attended the bench unveiling. Joan remains a very active member of the Gardening Club, and a great gardener. Matt Downey, Chairperson and Declan Wynne, Treasurer of the Gardening Club also attended.
Drogheda has recently won its ninth Gold Medal at the National Tidy Towns Awards and the local committee are already planning for 2018 and this project will form part of next year’s application.
Cllr. Kevin Callan, Chair of Drogheda Tidy Towns Committee, believes that “this project is a natural alliance between two groups that share a common goal, which is to improve their communities and make them better places in which to live”.
He also expressed his gratitude for the kind donation received from the Drogheda Gardening Club and believes that this type of partnership approach can only benefit the town’s future.