Shannon Tree of Hope Vandalism ‘devastating’

A TREE of Hope planted in Shannon Town Park in October was vandalised last weekend.

The tree was planted by the local Darkness Into Light group and its chairperson Brenda Leahy was very upset by the vandalism. “Devastated, absolutely devastated. I couldn’t believe it when I got the call to say it had been damaged and there were kids seen around the park. It’s terrible.”

Each year Shannon, like many other towns and villages, hosts a Darkness Into Light Walk in aid of Pieta House, but with that being cancelled, the Tree of Hope was planted instead. “Some people were concerned that it might be damaged but we said we’d go ahead with it, and hopefully it wouldn’t be. It was just to give a symbol of hope, it was some place for people to go and remember their loved ones or to reflect.”

Having lost her husband to suicide, Brenda said the tree had a special personal meaning to her. “It’s devastating, there are so many people upset about it. It’s in the guards’ hands now, I just hope whoever did it will realise what they’ve done and what it symbolised.”

She said that another tree will be planted and hopefully it will not be targeted in the future.

Recent months have seen a number of complaints about anti social behaviour in the Town Park.

Before it was developed, one of the perceived positives of the site was its proximity to Shannon Garda Station, but, regardless, it has still seen its share of problems.

At a meeting of local councillors some months ago, Councillor Gerry Flynn said that the park was seeing a number of incidents. “It’s not isolated, it has happened to a lot of people and it is not acceptable.” Councillor Pat O’Gorman said that “the last thing we want is for the facility to be ruined by a minority”.

Owen Ryan