PICTURE: Tipperary committee receives letter of recognition from President Higgins

On Saturday, April 12 at 1pm, history was once more achieved in St Mary's International Garden of Remembrance, Thurles.

Roseanna Ryan, Secretary of the Durlas Eile Eliogarty Memorial Committee, officially handed over President Michael D Higgins’ Letter of Recognition and Appreciation to John Wort, Chairman and Founder Durlas Eile Eliogarty Memorial Committee.

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John said it was a great honour and a fantastic achievement for President Michael D Higgins to take the time to write to the committee in recognition of their work in St Mary's over the last 25 years of Peace Remembrance and Reconciliation.

Recognition by the President is an indication of his message thanking the committee and wishing them well in the future with their dedication in keeping the history of all who died in all wars in the service of peace at home and overseas our local, national and international heroes.

The first President to acknowledge what St Mary's International Garden of Remembrance stood for and his appreciation was an audience with President Michel Sleman of Lebanon in his palace in Beirut, and after that meeting followed the twinning of St Mary's International Garden of Remembrance with the Irish United Nations memorial Garden in Tibnin, South Lebanon on the grounds of St George's Church.

Remembrance Sunday Ceremonies take place in both the Cathedral of the Assumption and in St George's Church.

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The committee’s ambassador, Abdo Haddad, organises the ceremonies yearly, and Mr Abdo represents Durlas Eile Eliogarty Memorial Committee at all Masses and ceremonies in Lebanon.

It is the committee’s goal to maintain St Mary's to the highest standards going forward into the future.

If you have an interest in what the group does, they say you are most welcome to join them.

They are thankful to their sponsors Martin and Joe Ann Semple Denver Colorado, and the Republic of Korea Embassy in Dublin.

They are always looking for new sponsors.

John would also like to thank the Tipperary Star for highlighting their ceremonies and their stories of events over the years.

They are also thankful to the Church of Ireland church body, Tipperary County Council, National Monuments, Heritage, Tony Lanigan of TUS, and their ground crews, especially Shane.