VIDEO: Remembrance and Reflection in honour of 209 lives lost during the pandemic

A special Ceremony of Remembrance and Reflection in honour of those lives lost to Covid-19 and acknowledge the contributions of frontline workers and the countless volunteers and support personnel and organisations was held at Buvinda House, Meath Co Council HQ on Sunday.

The ceremony began with the raising of the flag and formal wreath laying by An Cathaoirleach Cllr Sean Drew, who was accompanied by the Council chief executive Jackie Maguire and representatives of the frontline agencies during the pandemic (HSE, An Garda Siochana, Civil Defence, Meath Fire Service) as well as members of Óglaigh Náisiúnta na hÉireann.

The ceremony also included music by Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann Navan Youth and the Council Staff Choir.

Speeches took place in the Remembrance Garden with Des Foley, Deputy Chief Executive acting as MC for the poignant event.

Cllr Sean Drew delivered the opening address before Dr Augustine Pereira, Director of Public Health – HSE North East asked those present to remember the 209 souls lost to Covid-19 and to pay tribute to the frontline medical workers who had accomplished so much under extremely difficult circumstances

There were reflections from poet Ms Ciara Ní É, Ms Ita Healy, Older Peoples’ Council, Trim author Paddy Smith reading extracts from his book 'Cocooner – A Lockdown Diary; Ms Ingrid Reilly, Comhairle na N’Og before poet Tom French read an extract from his work 'To Distance'.

Closing remarks were delivered by Council Chief ExecutiveJackie Maguire who said

"All of us as individuals have changed and now is a time also to reflect on our experiences, how we lived and had to cope during the various lockdowns.

"But today we also remember and recognize with great appreciation all of those that played a part, and they played their part, in helping many others through what were very difficult times.

"These are the volunteers, the Civil Defence and GAA clubs, the critical care teams and health workers, those in the emergency services, such as the Garda Siochana and the Fire Service, those on other frontlines – the postmen and post women, our supermarket workers, our public transport drivers and supply-chain workers, my own staff here in the Council and the many others that did the things that nobody saw but were necessary and made a difference to peoples’ lives."

A Cherry Blossom Tree was planted in the Remembrance Garden to remember all those who passed away during the two year pandemic.