• The Trail represents a Journey of Hope in the grieving process for who have experienced loss.
• The Garden reflects in a maritime manner the experience of loss and the journey to recovery.
• A visit to the Garden is an opportunity to reflect on ones own recovery, in a setting that is sacred to the memory of those who have lost their lives at sea.

The loss of the S.S. Ardmore during World War Two off the Great Saltee Island formed the inspiration for the Memorial Trail and Garden. At an Ecumenical Service held in Kilmore Quay in 1998, to remember the crew who perished with the ship, relatives indicated that they would welcome a permanent focal point where those who lost their lives could be remembered. The development of the Garden was undertaken as a millennium project to commemorate the lives of all those lost at sea or elsewhere by drowning.

Looking west, towards the bow of the 'ship'.

A committee was put in place and plans were drawn up. State and local authority funding was sought and with the help of local contributions and fund-raising events the project was underway. The first sod was turned by Peggy Murphy, Kilmore Quay, as the sun set on the old millennium on December 31st, 1999 on a site near Forlorn Point, aptly named "The Graveyard of a Thousand Ships".

The concept for the Trail and Garden is The Journey of Hope, from the experience of loss through to recovery.

The Vigil Sculpture, by local man Ciaran O'Brien, of two grieving figures looking out to sea, marks the beginning of the trail. This leads into the garden which comprises the Ship's Wheel (also sculpted by Ciaran O'Brien) and a Compass Fountain - designed and constructed by John Power - with a propeller blade recovered from the ship Lennox, which was lost off the Saltee Islands in 1916.

On a plinth, supporting a tall mast, are the names of people who have died by drowning. The stonework on the ship and surrounding walls is the work of local stonemason, Declan Cleary. Many others gave their, not the least being the voluntary group who turned up each week throughout the construction of the project and other local lifeboatmen and coastguards who helped put the finishing touches to the Garden for the official opening

Looking towards Forlorn Point and the Saltees

The culmination of 18 months of forward planning, fund-raising and backbreaking voluntary work, came to a successful end on 17th June 2001 when Mr. Hugh Byrne, Minister of State at the Department of the Marine and Natural Resources, officially opened the Memorial Trail and Garden. An ecumenical blessing of the garden was performed by Fr. Jim Cogley, Kilmore Quay, and Chancellor Norman Ruddock, Church of Ireland.

While it is the end of the hard work, it is just the beginning of the Journey of Hope in the grieving process for many who lost their loved ones to the sea, especially those whose bodies were never recovered. The Trail and Garden is a fitting tribute to their memories.

An estimated 15,000 people from all over the country attended the opening ceremony, including representatives from the R.N.L.I., the Irish Coastguards, Irish Lights, Aer Lingus and many local organisations. Minister Hugh Byrne praised the voluntary workers who, under the firm and steady hand of John Power, chairman, ably assisted by Fr. Jim Cogley, ensured that the momentum behind the project never waned.

The committee included: John Power, chairman; Fr. Jim Cogley, vice-chairman; Deirdre Brady, secretary; Pat Creevy, treasurer; Helen Sheehan, PRO; Cllr. Jo Doyle, Edmund O'Byrne and Michael Way.

In welcoming everyone to the official opening of the memorial garden, Fr Jim Cogley described it as the largest maritime event ever to take place in the area. 'For those of us who have lived this dream over the past eighteen months and have worked towards making it a reality, it is deeply gratifying to see so many come to share our enthusiasm and witness its fulfilment," he said.

"For me, to see this place transformed to what it is today with such potential to bring healing and comfort to so many, makes me feel very emotional. We tend to say when a tragedy happens that 'time will heal'. Much to our surprise there were lots of unresolved issues which time had not healed, the pain of loss was still very evident and there were plenty of tears still to be shed.
Once again I warmly welcome the relatives of the Ardmore crew whose names are inscribed on the plaque facing where they were lost. In front is a brass plaque, a representation of the ship whose voyage of disaster is continued today as a Journey of Hope for many who have lost their loved ones.

More than anything else it was that Ardmore memorial weekend in 1998 which made us realise the huge need that there is for a permanent memorial, not just for the dead but for the living, where they can grieve for their loved ones in a manner which brings resolution and healing.
In considering a site for such a memorial we were quickly drawn to this location, once the village dump but at heart a place of unparalleled beauty, now a place sacred to the memory of those who were lost and a journey of hope and healing for those who mourn."

Fr Cogley paid a special tribute also to the chairman of the committee, John Power, who oversaw most of the work. "His commitment was nothing less than passionate and you can imagine the hours it took him to construct the beautiful ornate fountain."

Opening ceremonies 17th June 2001

Click HERE to see the names of those remembered in the Garden

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