‘Virtual ribbons’ brought Limerick’s Remembrance Tree to a global audience

THE launch of a ‘virtual ribbon’ helped to take a community project remembering loved ones at Christmas global this year.

Limerick Thomond Rotary Club recently presented three worthy charities with €5,000 each, raised from its much-loved, annual Christmas Remembrance Tree. 

Cuan Mhuire, Cliona’s Foundation and the Oesophageal Cancer Fund were each presented with cheques from Rotary at a ceremony in the Strand Hotel. 

“This year we launched a ‘virtual ribbon’ which meant that our local, community project became global,” Limerick Thomond Rotary Club president John Kelly explained. “People maybe who had emigrated could partake in the project, it was a great connection. It opened it up to so many people who maybe couldn’t get into town for whatever reasons.” 

For 23 days over the festive season, the initiative provided a public space in the city-centre for people to remember lost loved ones or those who were unable to be with them for Christmas.

Passers-by wrote the name of the person they wanted to remember on a yellow ribbon, which was then placed on the tree on Bedford Row. In January, a remembrance service is held where all of the tree’s ribbons are placed on the altar in the Augustines.