Dalaradia in conjunction with the RATH. Community Group have organised a community project entitled Rathcoole Row on Row to recognise those men and women who sacrificed their lives for our freedom.
During these testing times the Royal British Legion is calling on members of the public to assist their campaigns as the pandemic forces many veteran volunteers to stay at home. Many remembrance services will unfortunately be cancelled and with this in mind our aim is to offer a small space within the estate for people to lay crosses in someone’s memory.
Rathcoole is the largest PUL estate in the United Kingdom and the second largest housing estate in Europe. It is a travesty our estate does not have a memorial garden in memory of the great men and women of the world wars and with this small step we hope to build on it in the near future in the hopes it lays the foundation for one to be built.
Just a reminder Rathcoole Row on Row will open on Sunday November 1st at 1pm (located in Rathcoole Park on the field beside the play area). The Rev Campbell Dixon MBE, a member of the clergy at St Anne’s Cathedral, Belfast, will be delivering the religious service during our opening.
Pastor George Lunn of the Belfast City Mission will deliver a religious service during the closing of Row on Row on Saturday 7th at 11:00.
Rathcoole Friends of the Somme
Jim Montgomery (Lord Mayor)
Robert Foster (UUP)
Billy Hutchinson (PUP)
Paul Hamill (DUP)
Gillian Simpson-Kelly (TUV)
Sons of Kai flute band
Rathcoole Protestant Boys
Cloughfern Young Conquerors
Cloughfern Young Conquerors old boys
Billy Boys Flute Band
Community representatives
We have tried our utmost to involve as many as we possibly can being limited to 15 people within the designated area at one time. If however your group is interested please contact us direct, we would be more than happy to accommodate and can clear the area for a second wreath laying if required.
Poppy boxes will be available for members of the community who wish to lay a cross. During proceedings there will be a short religious service along with a piper. Current guidelines for a religious event limits us to 15 people within the immediate area, although this number is subject to change in the coming days and weeks and we will update the community accordingly.
That said the community can of course watch outside the area within the park and adjourning road as this is a public area open to anyone. We would ask however that you stick to the current social distancing guidelines. The garden is an open space and our aim is to have it available to members of the community to lay crosses for one week.
The main aim of the garden? You can read our initial announcement here – https://www.facebook.com/104568031425159/posts/109030924312203/?extid=0&d=n
We very much hope to see you all on November 1st and 7th.
Lest we forget
