Remembrance Tree to raise funds for charity
SHOPPERS can pay tribute to departed friends and loved ones after the Rotary Club of Wicklow erected its Remembrance Tree in Church Street car park.
The tree has been in place during the build-up to Christmas for twelve successive years now. This year all funds raised will go toward Wicklow Dementia Support and Wicklow Cancer Support.
Explaining the inspiration behind the remembrance tree, Tom Mulvihill, President, Rotary Club of Wicklow said: ‘It has tow main objectives. It is a popular meeting place leading up to Christmas where Wicklow people and visitors to the town are encouraged to sign the book of remembrance and write a message to remember a departed loved one or friend while donations are accepted to fund two local well-deserving charities’.
The Remembrance Tree will be manned by members of Wicklow Rotary and representatives of Wicklow Dementia Support and Wicklow Cancer Support from this Friday up to Christmas Eve.
‘Wicklow Rotary Club acknowledges the important voluntary work carried out by Wicklow Dementia Support and Wicklow Cancer Sup- port group and have decided to support them again this year,’ said Pat Kerr, chair of the Rotary Remembrance Tree committee.
The remembrance tree is an important event in the Rotary club’s annual programme, which supports local and international charities including a major educational project in Tanzania supported by students in Wicklow Dominican College who have raised over €100,000 for this visionary project. However, Rotary’s work is rooted in the community especially in supporting local projects such as the Tidy Towns, the Nell Healy People of the Year Awards and the Youth Leadership Competition. SANTA Claus made a surprise visit to Wicklow town on Saturday ad he had to forgo his usual method of transport.
Instead of flying into the county town via a reindeer led sled, Santa was assisted by the local RNLI as he arrived by boat. The crew of the all-weather lifeboat Annie Blaker made sure Mr Claus arrived at Wicklow Lifeboat Station safeanddry.
Santa spent time chatting to local children, listening to what they want under the Christmas Tree and handing out presents to all. The Annie Blaker then brought Santy back out to sea where he was picked up by Rudolph and the rest of the crew and brought back to the North Pole.
Wicklow RNLI will also be the main beneficiaries of this year’s St Stephen’s Day Swim organised by Wicklow Swimming Club.
The annual swim takes place at the new pier in Wicklow town at 12.30 p.m.