Circle of Life - Garden of Commemoration & Thanksgiving
The purpose of this project Circle of Life, the first national garden of its kind, will be to commemorate and give thanks for the lives and generosity of spirit of all organ and tissue donors. It will also play an important role in the ongoing promotion of the importance of organ donation and transplantation.
Title & Location
Circle of Life - this national garden, to be located in the strategic and beautifully sited seafront Salthill Park overlooking Galway Bay, will reflect the spirit of giving, the enduring legacy which defines the lives of organ donors. It will, through its mix of imagery, symbolism and sentiment, engender feelings of positive transformation, healing and hope.
Artist's Impression
What is Circle of Life
The creation and development of a unique and very special national public garden:
· To commemorate and give thanks for the lives and generosity of spirit of the
· people in Ireland who give the gift of life to others through organ donation.
· To provide a place of comfort and inspiration to all affected by issues relating to organ donation, and a place of thanksgiving for those who have received the gift of life’s new possibility.
· To promote and further the cause of organ donation.
· To provide a significant attraction and amenity for residents and tourists alike, and an iconic cultural heritage beacon reaching out from Galway to the whole country and beyond.
Design Concept
Circle of Life Commemorative Garden is designed to be a place of beauty and evocation with particular and significant meaning for recipients and the families, friends and loved ones of organ donors. Its theme will reflect the inherent beauty and nobility of mankind, and the gift of life’s abundant sharing. Its message will be uplifting and its welcome universal.
The overall design (60 mtrs in diameter) will consist of a central stone sculpture area, surrounded by rich luxuriant vegetation, which together will create the form of the symbolic hawthorn flower; traditionally associated with emotional and physical healing of the heart. It will encompass a series of pathways along which the visitor will be invited to walk, stone seating for contemplation, and an elevated area overlooking the sea for rest and reflection. The carvings, images, and inscriptions used throughout will be both inspirational, comforting and an allegorical reflection of life’s journey. The total central area will be surrounded by an external planting arrangement of trees and shrubs designed to create a sense of enclosure and sanctuary.
Stones from iconic heritage sites from each of the 32 counties of Ireland will be assimilated into the garden design to represent donors from their respective counties. The universality of the life giving cause of organ donation will be reflected by the inclusion of international representational stone tablets gifted to the garden from the five continents; each one being sourced from a site associated with the advancement of humanity.
Funding Requirements
The project will be funded entirely through voluntary donations, a large proportion of which will be procured through corporate sponsorship of individual stone features and planting. (See below for details of stone features and plantings.) Other funding will be acquired through national, local and international events; philanthropic contributions and donations, and possible grant aid.
Total Costs
Capital €175,000
Ongoing Maintenance €50,000 €225,000
Project Timeline
Subject to a timely resolution of planning considerations and successful funding, the project will commence in late 2012.
Who are the promoters?
Circle of Life garden is being promoted and developed by Strange Boat Donor Foundation, a registered charity (CHY 19469) established in 2008 by the parents of Éamonn Goggin who became an organ donor following a fatal road crash in 2006.
The foundation is actively involved in promoting and supporting this life giving cause and, since its inception, has engaged in various related activities, the foremost of which is a dedicated website which has become a source of support and reference for a wide constituency of interests. The proposed commemorative garden is its most ambitious undertaking, and one which is totally reliant on the goodwill and generosity of benevolent donation and support.
This project has the support and backing of the Irish Organ Procurement Service; Transplant Coordinators and Mr. David Hickey, Director of Transplantation at Beaumont Hospital; the Irish Donor Network, the Irish Kidney Association, the OPW, the GAA and the Civic Authorities in Galway.
Stone Features
These are as follows:
1. Standing Stones
A series of five 2mtr high naturally sculpted limestone standing stones (sourced from Cong in Co. Mayo), each engraved with a symbolic representation of life’s journey, and providing inspiration for the garden’s title “Circle of Life”. The symbolism on each carving will be amplified by an inscribed apt verse of poetry or quotation.
2 Title Stone
The title stone of the garden will be located in an ornamental bed at the southern most point of the garden. It will comprise of a naturally sculpted 2 ton stone onto which will be carved the title, logo and philosophy of the garden.
3 International Representational Stones
These five stones will be gifted to the garden, one from each of the five major continents, to reflect the universality of the life giving cause of organ donation. They will be inscribed with a message/philosophy reflective of their source and will be embedded in the ground at one of the five access points to the garden between each of the five petals. They will each be sourced from a site associated with the advancement of humanity in their respective continents, and will help create a sense of universal inclusivity and an international welcoming dimension to the garden itself.
4 Petals
These raised stone beds adorned with rich sensual vegetation and set out in the form of hawthorn petals will, according to ancient Irish folklore and tradition, symbolize emotional and physical healing of the heart – attributes we hope will attach to the experience of the garden.
5 Heritage Stones
The 32 heritage stones featuring in a low retaining wall surrounding the garden’s centre will be sourced from historic and heritage sites in each of the 32 counties in Ireland to represent donors from that county. They will also convey a sense of connection to the project to people from throughout the country and beyond. Details of these stones and their story will be carried in a booklet which will be published in conjunction with the opening of the garden and will provide an interesting dimension for visiting schools. (see sample representation)
6 Reflective Area
A beautiful elevated area for rest, reflection and viewing after completing the journey of the garden. This area will be built to replicate an old monastic ruin and will be constructed entirely from local salvage stone and materials. It will also contain a 4” high stone sculpted candle proclaiming the message of organ donation - A Gift of Life.
7 Central Area
This spiritual area will feature a stone sourced from the quarries near Clonmacnoise from which many of its high crosses were carved fourteen hundred years ago. Its carving will communicate the duality of life’s experience and the unification power of love.
A Legend Board will be positioned at some point in the garden to help interpretation, optimise the visitor experience and acknowledge contributors to the development and maintenance of the project.
Recent photograph of Salthill Park
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Postal address: Bothúna, Spiddal, Co. Galway
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