National award for Portlaoise Tidy Towns for work on historic Laois cemetery

The committee of Portlaoise Tidy Towns working in partnership with the Heritage Office of Laois County Council has received an award from the Adopt Monument Scheme of the Heritage Council, in recognition of their tremendous work in the conservation of Old St Peter’s Graveyard at the heart of historic Portlaoise.

The Committee invited Patricia Lodge, wife of the late Cllr Jerry Lodge to accept the award on their behalf, in memory of Jerry’s pivotal role in getting the conservation project at the site started, a number of years ago.

Gerry Brown, Chair of Portlaoise Tidy Towns Committee spoke at the presentation.

“We are delighted to receive this award and even more delighted with what it represents – the successful completion of our campaign to get Old St Peter’s Graveyard conserved and ready to open to the public. I’d like to pay tribute to all the people who have been involved with this project over the years in sourcing funds and ensuring that Old St Peter’s could be brought back to the beautiful reflective community space that it is today,” he said. MORE BELOW PICTURE.

Gerry Browne, chairman Portlaoise Tidy Towns; Catherine Casey, Laois Heritage Officer; Patricia Lodge representing the late Cllr Jerry Lodge; Dr Sharon Greene, Abarta Heritage and Vincent Booth, secretary Portlaoise Tidy Towns at Old St Peter's Graveyard for the announcement that Portlaoise Tidy Towns has received the award. Photo: Alf Harvey.

Portlaoise councillor Thomasina Connell, Cathaoirleach of Laois County Council said she was delighted to welcome the completion of the conservation project at Old St Peter’s Graveyard.

"I know this newly conserved space will be well used and warmly welcomed by the people of Portlaoise. I was delighted to see the committee pay tribute to my late colleague Cllr Jerry Lodge, and I’d like to add my words of thanks to both the committee and the Lodge family for the enormous role they have played in this project. MORE BELOW PICTURE.

Pictured in 2017 at Old St Peter's Cemetry and Churchground, Portlaoise where Conservation work was in progress. The late Cllr Jerry Lodge (Portlaoise Tidy Towns) with Angela Mc Evoy (Senior Planner - Laois County Council). Photo: Michael Scully

"I’d also like to congratulate the sections within Laois County Council who have collaborated to deliver this complex and important project,” she said.

Dr Sharon Greene of the Adopt a Monument Programme explained why the award has been presented.

“The Heritage Council Adopt a Monument mentor's award has been given to Portlaoise Tidy Towns Committee in recognition of their remarkable achievement in conserving and presenting Old St Peter's graveyard. It can sometimes be forgotten how much time and effort can go into a project like this, as well as the knowledge and experience gathered along the way.

"Portlaoise Tidy Towns Committee are in a position to share that knowledge and experience with others as a Mentor Group in the scheme and will no doubt carry on to achieve more themselves,” she said. MORE BELOW PICTURE.

The Old St Peter’s Conservation Project is a Partnership Project of Portlaoise Tidy Towns and Laois County Council, supported by the Heritage Council, the Community Monuments Fund and the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund.