And it’s for a fantastic cause!
Christmas is just around the corner, and it wouldn’t be a true Cork Christmas without the iconic Tree of Remembrance outside Brown Thomas, but what exactly does it represent?
Now in it’s 20th year, the Rotary Tree of Remembrance has recently been erected in its usual spot on Patrick Street and is set to launch this coming Saturday. Organised by the Rotary Clubs of Cork and Bishopstown , it gives the people of Cork an opportunity to write messages remembering loved ones on yellow ribbons which are then hoisted onto the tree in colourful garlands.
While there is no cost, donations are gratefully received, and all funds raised go to local Cork charities. This year, the chosen charities for the Tree of Remembrance are Marymount Hospice, Arc cancer support, St Vincent de Paul, and Cork Samaritans.
Many other charities have been helped over the past 19 years, and it is hoped that in this 20th year of the project, the figure of €1,000,000 will be exceeded in the total raised so far. The Lord Mayor will open the project at 1pm on Saturday 10th December by placing the first ribbon on the Tree and there will be a blessing and carol singing.
Speaking to Craving Cork about the project, organiser Tom Woodward of The Cork Rotary Club is hopeful that this year they will break the €1 million barrier:
“We raised €3000 in the very first year at the Brown Thomas location. We were then bumped downstream to outside The Moderne where we raised €2000 in the second year, which led to much soul searching as to whether we should continue. We were steady at around €50,000 for the post recession years and over €100,000 last year.”
There will be volunteers at the tree outside Brown Thomas up until Christmas Eve to pass out ribbons and to place them on the tree.
For people who cannot get in to the City, or who are abroad, they also have a brand new app whereby you can leave a message which will be put on to the tree by Rotary volunteers. You can find the app by searching ‘Rotary Tree of Remembrance‘ in the app store.