Garden of Remembrance (Dublin)

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Garden of Remembrance
Garden of Remembrance

The Garden of Remembrance (Irish: An Gairdín Cuimhneacháin) is an Irish memorial garden, created in Dublin dedicated to the memory of all those who gave their lives in the cause of Irish Freedom, [1]notably:

Garden of Remembrance
Garden of Remembrance
Garden of Remembrance front entrance click to read text
Garden of Remembrance front entrance click to read text

The Garden of Remembrance designed by Dáithí Hanly, was opened in 1966 by President de Valera on the fiftieth anniversary of the Easter Rising.

The Garden of Remembrance also marks the spot where several leaders of the 1916 Easter Rising were held overnight before being taken to Kilmainham Gaol. [2]

It is in the form of a sunken cruciform water-feature. Its focal point is a statue of "the Children of Lir" by Oisín Kelly, symbolising rebirth and resurrection.

In 1976 a contest was created to find a poem which could express the appreciation and inspiration of this struggle for freedom. The contest winner was Dublin born author Liam Mac Uistin, whose poem "We Saw a Vision" an Aisling style poem [3] is written in Irish, French, and English on the stone wall of the monument. An aisling poem is a type of poetic form created in the 18th century as a new means of poetry, which could express the hopes and sorrows of the people, free from censorship.[4][5] The word "aisling" in the Irish language means vision.

We Saw A Vision by Liam Mac Uistin
We Saw A Vision by Liam Mac Uistin
In Celtic custom, on concluding a battle, the weapons were broken and cast in the river. This was to signify the end of hostilities
In Celtic custom, on concluding a battle, the weapons were broken and cast in the river. This was to signify the end of hostilities
“ We Saw A Vision

In the darkness of despair we saw a vision, We lit the light of hope, And it was not extinguished, In the desert of discouragement we saw a vision, We planted the tree of valour, And it blossomed

In the winter of bondage we saw a vision, We melted the snow of lethargy, And the river of resurrection flowed from it.

We sent our vision aswim like a swan on the river, The vision became a reality, Winter became summer, Bondage became freedom, And this we left to you as your inheritance.

O generation of freedom remember us, The generation of the vision.

 ”

It is located in the northern fifth of the original park in the centre of Parnell Square (formerly Rutland Square), a Georgian square on the northside of Dublin. In 2004 it was suggested that as part of the redesign of the square the Garden of Remembrance itself might be redesigned, this led to the construction of a new entrance on the garden's northern side in 2007.