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The Newtown Memorial Garden

The Handing Over on St Patrick’s Day

After almost 10 years of talking about it, planning, designing and fundraising for it, the building of the Newtown Memorial began early on the morning 0f 13th February 2005. At lunchtime on St Patrick's Day, just a few short weeks later, the builders -their work complete - downed tools and along with the Architect, David Mackie, CBAT, the Project Managers and the Committee of The Newtown Association, raised their glasses in a special toast to the people of Newtown.

The Official Opening on Sunday 20th March was a most memorable day. Frank Hennessy and Dave Burns (himself a Newtown boy) played familiar Irish tunes while around 500 hundred people congregated in Tyndall Street and encircled the garden to witness Miss Charlotte Church cut the white orange and green ribbon. Distinguished guests included First Minister, the Rt Hon Rhodri Morgan, MP and Lord Dafydd Elis Thomas, Presiding Officer, Welsh Assembly Government, The Consul General of Ireland to Wales, Mr Colm McGrady and Chair of The Arts Council of Wales, Geraint Talfan Davies

Prior to the garden being declared officially open it was blessed by the Rt Rev Bishop Daniel Mullins and speeches were delivered by the First Minister, The Consul General of Ireland, the Director of CBAT and the Chair of The Newtown Association.

Before making their way down to the Coal Exchange for Mass and a celebratory lunch people lingered around the garden – just checking that their family names had been inscribed on the pavia . Click here to see the list.

We have lots of photographs of the opening ceremony and hope to include more of them this page very soon - so please be sure to come back

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