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Mayor plants oak tree in memory of those affected by Covid-19

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Mayor of Limerick oak tree – Mayor of Limerick City and County Council, Daniel Butler plants a tree in the People’s Park in memory of all those who died from COVID 19 during the pandemic. Pictured here with Micheal Sheahan, Limerick Parks Department, Joe Power, Limerick Parks Department, Mike Kemmy,  Kemmy Stonecraft, Sean O’Neill, Limerick Parks Department and Carmel SEE Limerick City and County Council. Picture: Keith Wiseman.

Mayor plants oak tree in memory of those affected by Covid-19

By I Love Limerick correspondent Rachel Petticrew

mayor of limerick oak tree

Mayor of Limerick City and County Council, Daniel Butler with help from pupils from St Michaels Infant School. Picture: Keith Wiseman.


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Mayor of Limerick City and County, Daniel Butler, has planted an oak tree in the People’s Park to remember those who lost their lives or were affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. 

Native to Ireland, the oak tree is known for its strength and resilience. It is a reflection of Limerick’s brave response to the coronavirus outbreak.

Nurtured by the community, the tree will grow and eventually shelter us. This idea corresponds to the care many Limerick people offered their family, friends and neighbours as we battled the Covid-19 pandemic. 

To date, almost half a million people in Ireland have contracted the virus, with 5,369 victims sadly passing away. 

Countless Limerick people have seen the reality of Covid-19 in their own lives. The county’s frontline health workers, hospitals and nursing homes have suffered massively over the past 19 months. 

Milford Care Centre saw one-third of its residents’ contract Covid-19, as well as a quarter of staff. Castletroy Nursing Home bore a similar scale of suffering.

Despite a nationwide vaccination campaign, coronavirus is still an active threat in local communities, with over fifty Covid-19 patients currently admitted to University Hospital Limerick. 

“The oak tree was planted on October 1, 2021, to coincide with International Day of Older Persons, and to remember the disproportionate impact Covid-19 continues to have on our elderly relatives, friends and neighbours,” Mayor Butler told I Love Limerick. 

“The tree was planted to remember those lost to the virus, and to create a place where people could come to reflect and to remember.” 

For help in coping with the loss of a loved one due to Covid-19, go HERE

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Richard is a presenter, producer, songwriter and actor. He was named the Limerick Person of the Year (2011) and won an online award at the Metro Éireann Media and Multicultural Awards (2011) for promoting multi-culturalism online. Richard says that the ilovelimerick.com concept is very much a community driven project that aims to document life in Limerick. So, that in 20 years time people can look back and remember the events that were making the headlines.