Denis' bequest to Nenagh school

The eye-catching owl sculpture outside St Mary's No 2 NS was funded through a bequest made by a man who used to carry out repair works at the school.

Denis Croft left money to the school he loved so well before he died. It was used to breathe new life into the macrocarpa tree outside the school, transforming it into the wondrous creation that so many have come to marvel at.

The tree was dead and it was made safe by local tree surgeon Padraig McSweeney. He and School Principal Shirley Maher then approached skilled chainsaw sculptor Will Fogarty from Hospital, Co Limerick, with a view to fashioning something new from the dead tree rather than just cutting it down.

They came up with the idea of an owl sculpture, a poignant symbolisation of wisdom and education. Will embarked on the project last summer; when he was finished, he carved Denis Croft's initials into the back of the tree.

Denis' devotion to the school and his bequest was discussed by Ms Maher when pupils and staff at St Mary's No 2 recently celebrated the awarding of their new Green Flag. Denis' wife Rae was among the guests on the day.