A touching tribute to those who died of Covid-19 was launched in Dublin today.
Dublin's Lord Mayor Hazel Chu unveiled the first new park bench dedicated to the victims of the pandemic in Ranelagh Gardens Park.
The bench is the first of 30 that will be installed around the city. They will appear in predominantly green spaces managed by Parks, Landscape & Biodiversity Services.
The Lord Mayor wanted to respond to the effects of the pandemic on behalf of Dublin citizens and after working with the Parks division, this initiative was decided on.
Each of the thirty benches will have a plaque on the backrest, quoting a stanza of the Katharine Tynan poem 'Farewell'.
Speaking at today’s launch in Ranelagh Gardens Park, Ms Chu said: “As I come to end of my term of office as Lord Mayor during what has been the most extraordinary of times, I wanted to pay homage to those who have lost loved-ones over the past sixteen months of this pandemic.
"These benches which Dublin City Council Parks Department and I worked on will offer people an opportunity to sit in nature, reflect and remember those who have died."
City Parks Superintendent, Les Moore, said: “There has never been a time when the parks of the city have been so important to its citizens for recreation but also respite from the confines of their dwelling place.
¨The new benches I’m sure will be very much welcomed by people who seek to rest and enjoy being close to nature.”
