Ribbon cutting ceremony for Longford baby memorial garden

It was an emotional and proud occasion for Imelda Kilmurray on Saturday as The Feather Garden, in Ballinalee, a new community baby memorial garden providing a place of comfort for parents and family members who have lost a baby, was officially opened.

​Imelda and her husband Colin, lost their daughter Annie Rose, in 2014. “This garden, located behind the playground in Ballinalee, is in the memory of Annie Rose and in the memory of all those lost babies. It'll be a quiet place of reflection and comfort for parents and family who have lost a baby.”

Imelda, from Esker, Killoe, explained where the idea for The Feather Garden originated.

“We visited something similar in Swinford, Co Mayo, called the Butterfly Garden. So a group of us got together and with the invaluable help of Micheál Carrigy TD, we opened our own Feather Garden. As far as I know, it's the only garden of its kind in the Midlands.”

Imelda, who writes poetry and is a member of the Longford Writers Group, outlined, “Losing a baby, at whatever stage, can be devastating. Talking to people who have also experienced it is important and sharing experiences locally. Finding out that you're not alone brings strength and getting support from the Little Life Time Foundation was great. Yes, it's good to talk, it's vital.”

On Thursday, October 15, from 7-8pm, the Longford Wave of Light ceremony will be held in The Feather Garden when bereaved families can gather with candles to remember.

Imelda also pointed out, “This little garden will be open to any one, not just bereaved families. It can be a space to remember special days.”

Every bereaved parent has their own specific days that they need to remember, Imelda explained.

She said it can be what would have been the first day at school for their lost baby or the day they would have been starting college.

“There are all these little timelines that people need to mark, I suppose, so they can just come out here and just sit for half an hour or whatever they want.

"It gives you somewhere tangible to mark it, because all you can kind of do is maybe mark it in your mind or something but this gives you somewhere that you can physically go to.

"And nobody's going to ask any questions while you're here, because it’s not just for bereaved parents, anybody can enjoy the space.”