Gardens of Remembrance & Reflection
Cathaoirleach Senator Mark Daly launched the Garden of Remembrance and Reflection Initiative with Minister Senator Pippa Hackett, all Senate Group Leaders and Garden Designer Diarmuid Gavin.
“The Gardens of Remembrance and Reflection Initiative may be of interest to many communities especially those in the Tidy Town Committees. You may remember in 2016 many counties, towns and parishes installed Gardens of Remembrance. Following on from this very successful initiative, and as we continue our decade of commemorations, I am again working alongside landscape artist Diarmuid Gavin on this project with the support of Minister for State Pippa Hackett, the governments commemorations unit and all the leaders of the groupings in Seanad Eireann who are supporting the Gardens of Remembrance and Reflection initiative. Having worked with the Governments Commemoration Unit, I welcome the news that Tidy Towns Unit Department of Rural and Community Development have also said under this initiative that groups may be in a position to gain points within the competition.”
The 7 Garden templates are designed by Diarmuid Gavin, and it is suggested that they could be dedicated after women involved in the journey for independence 100 years ago. These garden designs can be replicated, altered or amended in any way the community deem fit or indeed a completely different design can be used depending on the location.
All these Gardens of Remembrance and Reflection should have three elements in common
· A replica of the 1916 proclamation
· A flagpole for the tricolour
· Seven trees which represent the seven signatories of the proclamation
As many people were involved in the journey for independence a century ago, it would be appropriate that the proclamation alone would be the only inscribed words in these gardens.
If public health guidelines allow Communities who installed a garden may wish to officially dedicate or their gardens on the 11th of July this year to mark the 100th anniversary of the truce during the War of Independence.
“The Gardens of Remembrance and Reflection Initiative may be of interest to many communities especially those in the Tidy Town Committees. You may remember in 2016 many counties, towns and parishes installed Gardens of Remembrance. Following on from this very successful initiative, and as we continue our decade of commemorations, I am again working alongside landscape artist Diarmuid Gavin on this project with the support of Minister for State Pippa Hackett, the governments commemorations unit and all the leaders of the groupings in Seanad Eireann who are supporting the Gardens of Remembrance and Reflection initiative. Having worked with the Governments Commemoration Unit, I welcome the news that Tidy Towns Unit Department of Rural and Community Development have also said under this initiative that groups may be in a position to gain points within the competition.”
The 7 Garden templates are designed by Diarmuid Gavin, and it is suggested that they could be dedicated after women involved in the journey for independence 100 years ago. These garden designs can be replicated, altered or amended in any way the community deem fit or indeed a completely different design can be used depending on the location.
All these Gardens of Remembrance and Reflection should have three elements in common
· A replica of the 1916 proclamation
· A flagpole for the tricolour
· Seven trees which represent the seven signatories of the proclamation
As many people were involved in the journey for independence a century ago, it would be appropriate that the proclamation alone would be the only inscribed words in these gardens.
If public health guidelines allow Communities who installed a garden may wish to officially dedicate or their gardens on the 11th of July this year to mark the 100th anniversary of the truce during the War of Independence.
| Gardens of Remebrance & Reflection Brochure 2021 |
2016
In 2016, Senator Daly launched the Gardens of Remembrance and Reflection initiative, which sought to bring communities from the towns, villages, parishes and cities of Ireland together to commemorate the 1916 Rising in a way that would leave a lasting legacy to be enjoyed by future generations.
In fact, the initiative was open to Irish communities around the world, be they in Philadelphia, Perth, New Zealand and beyond, who may wish to honor the 1916 Rising and the sacrifice of those men and women in pursuit of a free and sovereign nation.
Mark was joined in this project by world renowned garden designer and former Chelsea Garden show Gold Medalist Diarmuid Gavin, who designed a series of seven template gardens for communities to use as blueprints for their own projects. Diarmuid incorporated elements of each of the Seven Signatories of the 1916 Proclamation into his designs.
Communities were also free to use their own inspiration, or the skills of local garden designers or landscape artists and pay tribute in their own way. All gardens would be unified by three core features, a flagpole and tricolor, seven trees in honor of the Seven Signatories and a copy of the Proclamation.
The project was a roaring success with three hundred and sixty-five gardens of remembrance installed across the country in 2016. This included a garden in Mark's hometown of Kenmare, which was opened on the 13th of May at a female focused ceremony. The idea behind such a ceremony was in order to pay tribute to the oft forgotten women who played a vital role in the 1916 Rising.
The Defense Forces provided an all-female colour party in honor of Rosalie Rice, who sent the telegram from Kenmare Post Office to notify the United States that the Rising had started. The event was chaired by Senator Daly with Councillors Patrick Connor Scarteen & Dan McCarthy. They were joined by Guests of Honor for the event; Stuart Dwyer, Charge D'Affair of the US Embassy, and Moira Murrell, Chief Executive of Kerry County Council.
2021
Following the success of the project back in 2016, Senator Daly is now working with all the leaders of the parties and groups in Seanad Éireann on the Gardens of Remembrance and Reflection. This follows the work that was done back in 2016, but this time encourages communities to name gardens of women who have played a role in our nations story. Most infrastructure, parks, public buildings etc. in Ireland are named after men, and Senator Daly believes it is long overdue that women are given equal representation in this area.
In 2016, Senator Daly launched the Gardens of Remembrance and Reflection initiative, which sought to bring communities from the towns, villages, parishes and cities of Ireland together to commemorate the 1916 Rising in a way that would leave a lasting legacy to be enjoyed by future generations.
In fact, the initiative was open to Irish communities around the world, be they in Philadelphia, Perth, New Zealand and beyond, who may wish to honor the 1916 Rising and the sacrifice of those men and women in pursuit of a free and sovereign nation.
Mark was joined in this project by world renowned garden designer and former Chelsea Garden show Gold Medalist Diarmuid Gavin, who designed a series of seven template gardens for communities to use as blueprints for their own projects. Diarmuid incorporated elements of each of the Seven Signatories of the 1916 Proclamation into his designs.
Communities were also free to use their own inspiration, or the skills of local garden designers or landscape artists and pay tribute in their own way. All gardens would be unified by three core features, a flagpole and tricolor, seven trees in honor of the Seven Signatories and a copy of the Proclamation.
The project was a roaring success with three hundred and sixty-five gardens of remembrance installed across the country in 2016. This included a garden in Mark's hometown of Kenmare, which was opened on the 13th of May at a female focused ceremony. The idea behind such a ceremony was in order to pay tribute to the oft forgotten women who played a vital role in the 1916 Rising.
The Defense Forces provided an all-female colour party in honor of Rosalie Rice, who sent the telegram from Kenmare Post Office to notify the United States that the Rising had started. The event was chaired by Senator Daly with Councillors Patrick Connor Scarteen & Dan McCarthy. They were joined by Guests of Honor for the event; Stuart Dwyer, Charge D'Affair of the US Embassy, and Moira Murrell, Chief Executive of Kerry County Council.
2021
Following the success of the project back in 2016, Senator Daly is now working with all the leaders of the parties and groups in Seanad Éireann on the Gardens of Remembrance and Reflection. This follows the work that was done back in 2016, but this time encourages communities to name gardens of women who have played a role in our nations story. Most infrastructure, parks, public buildings etc. in Ireland are named after men, and Senator Daly believes it is long overdue that women are given equal representation in this area.