Mid-Louth: Dunleer's Grace Gifford Garden officially opened
The granddaughter of businessman and generous benefactor Martin Naughton and his wife Carmel, cut the tape for the opening in brilliant sunshine, of the Grace Gifford Garden of Remembrance and Reflection, at Dunleer on Sunday afternoon last.
More than 200 people who assembled in the garden amidst the trees and flowers and shrubs along by the roadside near the school and the Glen Dimplex company, cheered them on, while the Ardee Concert Band provided us with great music.
Among the attendance were Senator Erin McGreehan, and Senator John McGahon Cathaoirleach of Louth County Council Paula Butterly and outgoing Cathaoirleach Conor Keelan, Councillor Maeve Yore, Cathaoirleach of the Ardee Municipal Authority Delores Minogue with Cllr. Pearse McGeough, Cllr. Bernie Conlon the Dunleer Cllr John Sheridan.
The parents of the designer of the garden Sonya Creevey, along with historian for the project Ailbhe Rogers and Health and Safety Officer for the project John Hand also attended. John Douglas of Douglas Horticulture was the contractor for the garden.
Edmund Matthews, chairman of Dunleer Tidy Towns, addressed the attendance saying that Pat Roche was the driving force behind the building of the garden and was appointed lead for this project and thanked all those involved in the building of the garden and the generous sponsorship of Martin Naughton of Glen Dimplex without whose assistance they could not have completed this project.
Celebrity broadcaster, Dr Éanna ni Lamhna, from the next parish of Stabannon gave an entertaining address on the need for attention to bio-diversity.
She complimented Dunleer Tidy Towns on the wonderful garden of Remembrance and the dual purpose which included a bio diversity planting and two spectacular bug hotels for winter hibernation built by the Drogheda Mens Shed.
Addressing the attendees, Martin Naughton said he set up Glen Electric in Newry initially and then went on to expand into the Glen Dimplex Company with its headquarters based in Dunleer employing many workers over the years in County Louth and further afield. It expanded into a world- wide business within 50 years
Pat Roche, who was continuity announcer for the event, gave the background to the life of Grace Gifford and the association of Cumann na mBann revolutionary Brigid Kelly of Grangebellew Dunleer with her fellow prisoner Grace Gifford Plunkett in Kilmainham Gaol in 1920 to 1922 period.
He concluded the celebrations with the singing of the song Grace which immortalises the story of Grace Gifford before the execution of her husband Joseph Mary Plunkett, one of the seven signatories of the Proclamation of the Irish Republic in 1916.
Lt. Emmet Coulter a Dunleer native and Corporal Alan McAndrew from Dundalk Army Barracks formed the colour party and march past and raising the national flag on a new flagpole beside a replica of the Proclamation of the Irish Republic to the sound of the last post followed by the Reveille.
The band played he national Anthem and all the crowd joined in singing it.
It was a wonderful day for the opening ceremony and all present thoroughly enjoyed it.