Memorial Walk in honour of past pupils of Burgess NS
Over €15,000 raised for five different charities.
To mark her retirement, Ann Costello, Deputy Principal at Burgess NS, organised a community 5K Memorial Walk in honour of the six pupils she taught over her 42 years at the school, who have sadly passed away. The local community came out in their hundreds to show solidarity with the six families and their friends and to demonstrate their love and respect for these incredible young people, so deeply missed: Patrick Sullivan, Elizabeth Gleeson, Niamh Heffernan (née Hogan), Derek Mulqueen, Thomas McGrath and Laura Kennedy.
Having taught five of these past pupils in the Infant Classroom, Ms Costello will always remember their smiling faces full of potential and light. Even though they were with us only a short time, she said they touched all our hearts and left a lasting impression on everyone who knew them. She hoped that by bringing the Burgess community together for this memorial walk, it would provide healing, a sense of connection and express a promise that the short but cherished lives of Patrick, Elizabeth, Niamh, Derek, Thomas and Laura would always be remembered and stay at the heart of Burgess NS and community.
The memorial walk also highlighted the important work being carried out daily by the five nominated charities relevant to the families. The Dillon Quirke Foundation - Sudden Death Syndrome, Irish Cancer Society, Pieta House, Acquired Brain Injury Ireland and Irish Road Victims Association. The donations received will enable these charities to fund medical research and screening and provide much-needed services and counselling. These charities will assist many families to come through some very difficult and challenging times in the future.
“It was a very uplifting, happy day in the parish, full of chat, smiles and laughter, a day I will always fondly remember.”
THANKS
Ann wished to thank the following for their assistance in making the Memorial Walk and Fundraiser such an outstanding success: the event committee co-chairs Fergal Mc Donnell and Majella McLoughlin, her fellow committee members Clara Bourke, Kate Darcy, Kay Grace, Pat Delaney, Bernie Boland, Kay Walsh, Emma Long and Róisín O’Donnell. She also wished to thank all those who assisted on the day with stewarding, parking and catering, Burgess School Principal, Emma Long, and the Board of Management, who kindly organised the pizza and ice-cream vans, which added a lovely party atmosphere to the event. Teamwork was also evident in having the memorial bench ready, in situ, on the day – a big thank you to Mike Hanrahan, who collected the bench; JP and Fergal McDonnell, who prepared the ground; Dermot Carey, who laid the plinth and secured the bench; and Fr O’Brien, who blessed it. The bench will always be a reminder of our cherished Burgess NS past pupils; they will always be in our thoughts and prayers, and we will think of them whenever we sit there.
Her final word of thanks goes to the Burgess community and beyond for supporting this heartfelt event and for the outstanding generosity shown in supporting the five nominated charities.
Go raibh mile maith agaibh go léir!