HUNDREDS of locals attended an emotional remembrance night that was staged in Ballyfermot recently for loved ones who have passed away.
The brainchild of local man David ‘Dotsy’ Byrne, the remembrance night featured a mass in Cherry Orchard Church before a gathering in Clifden Drive Park where locals released balloons and lit lanterns to remember all those who they have loved and lost.
“It was a very emotional night,” said David, who set up the ‘Ballyer Legends R.I.P’ Facebook page a year ago. “It brought all these people from Ballyfermot and others who they hadn’t seen in years together to remember their loved ones. People were remembering their loved ones and saying a prayer for them as they released the balloons and lanterns into the sky. And it just so happened to be a beautiful night that made it very special.”
The Ballyer Legends Facebook page has attracted over 7,000 members since it was set up one year ago. On the page members can post messages and pictures to pay tribute to deceased friends and relatives.
It has proved so popular that David has received messages from others around the city and further afield who said they wanted to set up a local version of their own page.
David and his pal Patrick Gillespie vowed to make a date near the beginning of May an annual remembrance event for locals.
“We also unveiled a Legend’s Way plaque near the entrance to the park,” he added.
