Forget Me Knot, Portlaw: 'It's not just a Christmas tree'
Ronnie Moore, Feana Walshe and TonyMcGrath with the Forget Me Knot Tree.
Every year, a Christmas tree adorned with bows goes up in the middle of Portlaw.
This is no ordinary tree but rather a memorial to all the people who cannot spend Christmas with their families.
The Forget Me Knot tree is a tradition in Portlaw going back around 17 years.
The tree was originally designed by a local youth club to remember their friends who had passed away.
Now, those youngsters have grown up and, with families of their own, moved away and on with their lives.
But the tree is still erected every year by a small group of dedicated locals who hope to keep the tree’s message going.
Ronnie Moore, who was a leader in the club that came up with the idea, spoke to the Waterford News and Star this week and told us what the tree represents.
Ronnie told us that the tree started out as a way for young people in the area to honour and visit the memories of their friends who had passed away.
In its first year, the club sold the bows to raise money for the club, but after a couple of years, the tree became sponsored.
“So it’s a nice way to remember people who have passed on. That is why it is called Forget Me Knot because they are knots on the tree, the bows are knots and it's forget me knot, which is the phrase for the tree,” said Ronnie.
As people moved on, Ronnie, her sister Feana Walshe and Tony McGrath continued to put the tree up.
Every year, they make the bows and people from Portlaw and as far away as Australia contact the team to add a bow.
The Forget Me Knot Tree has developed from a memorial tree into a symbol for all of those who cannot be with their families at Christmas.
That might be because they are in hospital or moved away or for those with Alzheimer’s whose minds are “elsewhere.”
“That is what it’s about. It’s not about who put it up or who put bows on it. It’s about where the tree came from and what it represents, and that is the most important part of the Forget Me Knot tree,” said Ronnie.
This year’s tree is a special one for Ronnie because she is battling cancer.
“I didn’t even think I would put a bow on it this year, I thought a bow would be gone on for me,” said Ronnie.
The team hope that new people will come forward to help keep the tree going and that publicity might promote the idea for its original purpose.
“There are a lot of stranger people in the village who don’t know what that tree is. They think it’s just a Christmas tree that went up. So it would be nice if people got what the tree is about, where it came from, and what exactly it represents."
Ronnie would like to thank all those who have contributed to making the tree happen every year.
She said that Tony McGrath is the “man with the van” who ropes in people to help.
She also paid tribute to Feana, Noel Molloy and Fig Power.
Ronnie would also have this message for readers.
“Have a nice Christmas, and life is short. When you get a lightbulb moment in your own life, you realise how short life is, so enjoy it. Don’t panic about things or get stressed out,” said Ronnie.
