13-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Independent
Kerry Covid-19 memorial ruled out because ‘a tree was planted' in 2021
A solitary tree as a marker to the victims was deemed sufficient by council management when Sinn Féin Councillor Tom Barry tabled a motion suggesting that a monument be considered at the recent Listowel Municipal District meeting.
Cllr Barry spoke of being approached by a woman in Listowel who made a 'compelling argument' as to why some token to the suffering and trauma needs to be acknowledged.
'The more she spoke about this the more it merited consideration,' Cllr Barry said.
'People just want to remember and the ways it affected them, even younger kids and their ability to socialise and their communities. There are still people who are isolating themselves during Covid, and who still haven't really come back. I know people like this,' he said.
Cllr Barry stated that such a memorial is not solely for the people who died, but also for those who still carry the pain and loss of losing loved ones.
'People lost loved ones. Not only that, many of them couldn't even call to the hospital to see them – and watching loved ones from outside windows who couldn't comfort them,' he said.
"There was funerals they couldn't go to. There was over 9 million people killed worldwide from it. There was 9,000 died in Ireland, and 233 people died in Kerry,' Cllr Barry added.
'This [monument] would also be for those who didn't get a proper chance to remember loved ones. I think the [Listowel] town park would be an ideal location for it. We have the Holocaust Memorial down there and the Garden of Europe. This is something that really should be considered,' Cllr Barry said.
In reply, Kerry County Council management said a tree was planted outside County Buildings in Tralee in June 2021 by the then Cathaoirleach Patrick Connor Scarteen in memory of those who passed away during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Fianna Fáil Councillor Jimmy Moloney seconded Cllr Barry's motion.
