My name is Geraldine O’Neill and I am the chairperson of the Women’s Group in Athy.

A few years ago, we got a grant from KWETB to refurbish and re plant the famine graveyard here in Athy.

St Vincent’s hospital was originally a workhouse, originally a hospital too, maternity for local people , those whose babies died, and could not afford a coffin or plot were buried there.

We set up a small garden at the top for babies and planted loads of flowers and plants in the diverse area . Last year a good citizen sprayed the place with weedkiller and killed all we had planted.

We had nothing left.

This year with the offer of a LPT grant from Cllr Mark Leigh and the bulbs we received from County Kildare LEADER Partnership, under the #BulbsForBees Initiative, we decided to re-plant the area again. Cllr Mark Leigh collected them from the Naas Office for us.

With the help of Athy Mens shed, Athy Women’s group, and Ger Kelly who is chair of Athy tidy towns, we are managing to get the place back looking nice and tidy again and a new biodiversity area.

In the pictures is Liam Regan from Athy Mens shed and myself, Chair of women’s’ activity group. More will be along next week to help, and give us a hand out.

If you take a peep at our Facebook page and scroll down through the years,  you will see pictures of our original refurbishment.

We had a great time planting and thanks again Catherine for sending us the bulbs. We look forward to sending you pictures when they are all out in Spring.

To find out about the Workhouse and Cemetery in Athy Visit: http://athyeyeonthepast.blogspot.com/2014/04/the-great-famine-in-athy.html

To find out more about Athy Women’s Group visit:

Contact: 086 3662274

or send a message to:

You can also find them on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/WomensActivityGroup