A LOCAL mother who lost three children in the Stardust fire has placed a plaque in her community in memory of those who died.
William (22), George (18) and Marcella (16) McDermott, from Edenmore, were among the 48 victims of the 1981 Valentine’s Day tragedy in Artane. The deceased siblings’ mother, Bridget, recently had a plaque specially made to mark the 35th anniversary, and it is now situated at the statue of Our Lady on Edenmore Green.
Ms McDermott said that a couple of months ago, she started thinking about doing something to remember those who died and wanted to mark the anniversary, in her own community.
“At first I was thinking about a bench but then settled for a plaque and I thought the best place to put one would be at the statue of Our Lady,” she told Northside People.
“By having the plaque there, people can go to the statue and say a little prayer.”
Ms McDermott purchased the plaque at Pierce Monuments on the Malahide Road at Northern Cross.
“The man who made it put it up free of charge as it needed to be drilled to the statue,” she said. “It was very decent of him and he did a great job.”
In the run up to the 35th anniversary, Ms McDermott said the pain of losing three of her eight children in the fire is still raw.
“It hurts as much as it ever did,” she said. “All of their photos are around the house and I think of them morning, noon and night.
“Although it’s such a long time ago, the anniversaries come around very quickly.
“As this is a significant one, our family is delighted to get the plaque put up in the community.”
Ms McDemott said the 48 victims should never be forgotten.
“Having this plaque in Edenmore will help with that and it will give locals and new people coming into the area the opportunity to remember them,” she added.