OFFICIAL OPENING OF OUR HERITAGE GARDEN
By

President of Ireland Michael D. Higgins

President of Ireland Michael D. Higgins performed the official opening of our
beautiful heritage gardens on Sunday May 12th accompanied by his wife Sabina.
The renovation project was supported with funding from LEADER.   Ralph Wickham who designed the gardens included not only visual but tactile elements as well as Horticultural Therapy units and a Music Garden.   Included in the renovations was the installation of a ‘Tone Zone’ or Outdoor Gym by Murphy Playground Services.  These facilities not only enhance the lives of our residents and those who attend the Day Care Centre but will also benefit the wider community.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

President Higgins planted a beautiful rare ‘Bird Cherry Tree’ in Irish ‘Donnroisc’ to commemorate the occasion and unveiled a ‘Rolling  Stone’. He delivered a memorable speech in which he reminisced about his childhood in Ballycar and his memories of the local area of which he is very fond.

 

 

Ralph Wickham assists
President Higgins planting
a Cherry Tree.

 

 

 

 

The Rolling Stone
commemorating the
Restoration of the Walled Gardens.

 

 

 

 

 Lucy Hastings, former primary school teacher to President Higgins, presented him with a ‘Cedar of Lebanon’ tree to plant in the Aras echoing the magnificent specimen which dominates the walled gardens.  President Higgins spent much of his time meeting and taking photographs with the people gathered much to everyone’s delight. He was very appreciative of the warm welcome he received
on his first official visit back to his old Parish.

 

 

A proud teacher with her former pupil.