COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF CLONDALKIN AREA COMMITTEE

Wednesday, March 16, 2022

MOTION NO. 4

MOTION: Councillor Peter Kavanagh

"This Area Committee calls for a report on the decision to refuse permission for the erection of a WW1 memorial stone according to the design submitted by Clondalkin Tidy Towns, including the reasons for refusal."

REPORT:

Please find below summary of Motions agreed to date regarding the Memorial Garden which EWCC facilitated in Clondalkin Park:

MEETING OF CLONDALKIN AREA COMMITTEE
Wednesday, November 15, 2017
MOTION NO. 11
MOTION: Councillor B. Bonner
"This committee requests that as a memorial to the Clondalkin men who lost their lives in World War One a grove of trees would be planted in Corkagh Park with poppies planted around them. A plaque bearing the names of those who died in the War to end all Wars would complete this memorial."
REPORT:
In accordance with the Naming & Commemorative Memorial Policy, proposals for commemorative plaques and monuments must be made in writing to:
Infrastructure Naming Committee,
Mayor’s Office
County Hall,
Tallaght,
Dublin 24.
Submissions should include the text of the proposed wording for a monument or plaque along with dimensions, details of the materials and visualisations (design, drawings) of the proposal.

MEETING OF CLONDALKIN AREA COMMITTEE
Wednesday, December 13, 2017
QUESTION NO. 3
QUESTION: Councillor B. Bonner
"Has an application been made to the commemorations committee regarding the motion of last month in relation to the planting of trees in Corkagh Park as a memorial to the Clondalkin men who died in World War 1. Does Clondalkin Tidy Towns need to make a formal application to the commemorations committee?
REPLY:
A copy of Motion 11 as discussed at the Clondalkin ACM in November has been forwarded to the Infrastructure Naming Committee. It would be of benefit if Clondalkin Tidy Towns made a formal application with details of the proposed wording for the plaque along with dimensions, details of the materials and visualisations (design, drawings) of the proposal.

MEETING OF CLONDALKIN AREA COMMITTEE
Wednesday, October 17, 2018
MOTION NO. 20
"That this Area Committee agrees that work should commence as soon as possible on the planting of trees to commemorate the Clondalkin men who died during World War 1 as agreed unanimously at Area Committee last year. What progress has been made to date on plans for this project?
REPORT:
The proposal to plant a grove of trees in Corkagh Park to commemorate the men of Clondalkin who lost their lives in World War 1 has been expanded to be a more inclusive project. This is in keeping with Objective 3 of the Heritage Plan which is to “highlight the military history and heritage of South Dublin County”. The memorial garden theme is addressed under Action (v) of this objective which is to “develop the concept and location of a ‘Peace Park’ in South Dublin County, to commemorate those who served or gave their lives during national and world conflicts and on peace-keeping service”.
It is intended to keep the commemoration concept as broad as possible, so that the ‘garden’ or ‘park’ would not become dated or linked to any particular conflict or operation.
An existing grove of trees has been identified in Corkagh Park which lends itself to the development of the ‘Peace Park’ concept. A map of Corkagh Park has been included with this report with the area in question outlined in red. The area is populated by a variety of trees which include Aesulus, Acer, Alnus, Betula, Crataegus, Fagus, Fraxinus, Pinus and Quercus. It is proposed to progress the project in 2019 as part of the Public Realm Improvement Works Programme.

MEETING OF CLONDALKIN AREA COMMITTEE
Wednesday, October 21, 2020
MOTION NO. 6
"That this committee supports Clondalkin Tidy Towns in the building of a Memorial to locals who died in World War 1."
REPORT:
South Dublin County Council is supportive of Clondalkin Tidy Towns (CTT) in their endeavours to develop a memorial garden in Clondalkin Park. Phase 1 of the project commenced in February/March 2020 with the planting of 34 Sorbus aucuparia trees on a site in Clondalkin Park. The trees were supplied by SDCC and planted by SAP Landscaping Ltd who were working on behalf of CTT. The planting proceeded at the time to ensure the survival of the trees while the details of the plan were being worked on. The trees have established well and a further 2 trees will be provided as requested by CTT for planting this winter. A chestnut pale fence was erected at the back of the garden in Q3 to define the area.
Prior to progressing onto any further yet to be approved development there are a number of issues which are still outstanding. The draft plan which was discussed with CTT at the Tidy Towns meeting on 29th January has still not been approved nor agreed. Additional detail is required for approval prior to further works being carried out. In addition, details of how the works are being funded should be provided.
While the memorial stone was mentioned at the meeting the Public Realm Section is not in a position to agree to it. This would have to be evaluated by a committee chaired by the Mayor as set out in the Infrastructure naming, provision of memorials and plaques policy.

MEETING OF CLONDALKIN AREA COMMITTEE
Wednesday, January 20, 2021
MOTION NO. 8
"That this Area Committee call on the Council to meet with Elected Members and Clondalkin Tidy Towns in order to progress the World War1 Memorial and that we also ask the Mayor to convene the Commemoration Committee."
REPORT:
Following the motion approved at the July 2020 Council Meeting to reconstitute the Commemorations Committee, a report was brought to the September 2020 OP & F meeting. Elected members agreed the terms of refence, nominees for the committee, and the key purpose and priorities for the Committee, which was approved at the Council meeting in October 2020.
If this Motion is agreed, the Mayor will be notified of this submission for consideration by the Committee when it is convened.

MEETING OF CLONDALKIN AREA COMMITTEE
Wednesday, April 21, 2021
QUESTION NO. 15
"To ask the Chief Executive for a report into the Commemorations Committee and when this will meet? The Clondalkin Tidy Towns is awaiting a decision on a commemoration stone for the World War 1 Memorial and cannot progress the started project as this is a core element to the Memorial. Can we have a detailed report into next steps included in the report?"
REPLY:
Following the motion approved at the July 2020 Council Meeting to reconstitute the Commemorations Committee, a report was brought to the September 2020 OP & F meeting. Elected members agreed the nominees for the committee, which were approved at the Council meeting in October 2020.
The first meeting was held in February 2021 to consider a funding proposal to the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, under the Community Strand of the Decade of Centenaries programme.
This fund was established to support the development of community-led commemorative initiatives in 2021, in remembrance of this complex and challenging period in our history. It will also allow for advance planning of commemorative initiatives for 2022.
The Mayor is convening a meeting of the Committee to review proposals submitted.

MEETING OF CLONDALKIN AREA COMMITTEE
Wednesday, April 21, 2021
MOTION NO. 21
MOTION: Councillor T. Gilligan
"That the Chief Executive grants approval for the installation of a Memorial Stone at Clondalkin Park for a Memorial Garden."
REPORT:
If this Motion is agreed, the proposal will be brought to the relevant committee for consideration.

The above motions and further report below outline the evolution of the WW1 memorial garden at Clondalkin Park and its provision:

Nov 2017: The proposed Memorial Garden was first raised at the Clondalkin ACM.
13th November 2018: First meeting took place in Corkagh Park Depot. The main outcome of the meeting was to identify an appropriate site for the memorial garden.
Circa April 2019: Site identified in Clondalkin Park and agreed with CTT.
29th January 2020: SAP Landscapes developed a draft plan for CTT and meeting held with CTT & SAP to discuss plan. CCT confirmed that they would be responsible for ongoing maintenance.
February/March 2020: The agreed project commenced with the planting of 34 Sorbus aucuparia trees on a site in Clondalkin Park (1 tree for each Clondalkin person). The trees were supplied by SDCC (cost €4,244) and planted by SAP Landscaping Ltd who were working on behalf of CTT. The planting proceeded at the time to ensure the survival of the trees while the details of the plan were being worked on.
Winter 2020: A further 3 trees (2 additional trees & 1 to replace a vandalised tree) were provided as requested by CTT and planted by SDCC.
Nov/Dec 2020: CTT erected a chestnut pale fence at the back of the trees and planted a beech hedge along it in to define the area. Note: Hawthorn hedge was identified on draft plan.

Additional works were agreed and undertaken: to incorporate WW1 and the local impact to Clondalkin and the loss of life in Clondalkin into the information / heritage markers that were placed along the heritage trail along the Camac River. This WW1 marker was positioned at the memorial garden location.

A proposal was submitted to Clondalkin ACM in early 2021 (See above Motion list) to add a memorial stone to the existing Memorial Garden. This decision was referred to the Infrastructure Naming Committee as per the relevant protocols.

EWCC were requested to make comment on the proposal by the Infrastructure Naming Committee and have since met again with CTT in February 2022. EWCC have yet to finalise our comments and submit same to the Infrastructure Naming Committee. The decision regarding the proposed memorial stone rests with the Infrastructure Naming Committee.