14th March 2022
The ceremony will broadly reflect the national event, with a tree planting and wreath-laying ceremony on the grounds of City Hall prior to the event, and a reflective ceremony with poetry and music. Members of the public can attend by booking free tickets on Eventbrite.
The ceremony will include musical performances by harpist Mr. Fiachra Ó Corragáin, who has composed a specially commissioned piece and the Barrack Street Band. There will be a poetry reading of a specially commissioned poem by local poet Mr. Tom McCarthy. The ceremony will feature contributions from Health Service Executive, representatives of our city’s new communities, senior citizens and youth, as well as addresses from our Lord Mayor and Chief Executive.
The ceremony will commemorate all those who died and who have been bereaved during the Covid-19 pandemic, whilst acknowledging the crucial supports delivered to vulnerable members of communities through the efforts of each Community Call Forum will also be recognised.
Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr. Colm Kelleher said: “This ceremony is an important opportunity to recognise and reflect on the impact the last two years have had on us. There is no denying it has been difficult, traumatic even, for many of us. We have lost much but we have also gained much, we have been changed and marked by our experience of the pandemic and this is our chance to confront and acknowledge this. The pandemic truly showed us the power of the human spirit, and the extent of our resilience, the admirable way we managed to pull together while staying apart.”
