SAVE THE TREES CAMPAIGN - GALWAY

national | miscellaneous | news report Friday January 31, 2003 10:48 by Edward Eyre - Galway Environmental Alliance

Galway Environmental Alliance (GEA) invites you to a 24hr Vigil in Eyre Square Galway. Starting at Midnight on Friday and ending at midnight on Saturday 1st February. To help save 90 mature trees that are under threat.

Galway Environmental Alliance (GEA) invites you to a 24hr Vigil in Eyre Square Galway.
Starting at Midnight on Friday and ending at midnight on Saturday 1st February. To help save 90 mature trees that are under threat.

Highlights
00.00 Lighting vigil candle and opening vigil register.
12.00 Tree walk around the square
14.00 Parade starting and finishing at Eyre Square
15.00 Open air play by Colours street theatre
15.30 Speeches
16.30 Blessing the trees ceremony.
17.00 Poetry readings followed by music until midnight.
There will be tree walks, and children's events all day.

In 1712, Edward Eyre gifted the square to the people of Galway and into the charge of Galway Corporation to keep Eyre Square as an open space.

Wooden railings were erected around the square which were later replaced by iron ones. It remained as an oasis of tranquillity until it was redesigned in 1963 in honour of the visit of the late US president John F Kennedy. Many trees were planted in his honour to supplement the existing trees. Other trees have been planted in the square to mark various events including one to mark Galway as a nuclear free city.

In a new plan which has been approved by An Bord Pleannala, around 90 mature trees are to be removed from the square with another 11 moved to separate locations within the square and only 9 remaining where they are.

The Galway Environmental Alliance is mounting a last ditch campaign to save some of the few remaining mature trees in Galway City centre.

Please support us if you can.