Tom Roche (pictured above) travelled to Millstreet from Tullamore, Co. Offaly on Friday, 4th July to photograph Joanne O’Riordan at Joanne’s Grove in Millstreet Town Park for the “Hug a Tree” Project 2014. As you note from our feature it was quite a rainy morning but Tom captured great images and Joanne’s mother, Anne, provided weather cover for the ever-witty and cheerful Joanne. Later we shall have lots more information on this wonderfully creative annual project and will link to Tom’s website. Click on the images to enlarge. (S.R.)
And here we recall the original planting of Joanne’s tree in 1997 at the superb instigation of Principal of Scoil Mhuire, Millstreet BNS – Jim Bradley who stated words which Anne so clearly remembers to this day “As we observe the blossoming of this tree, so also we shall witness the blossoming of Joanne.” And how very true this is now seventeen years later. We thank Jim for permitting us to include three 1997 pictures from our Museum Pictorial Archive of the special event.
And now back to 2014 when after the photography in the Town Park we all went to Nibbles to celebrate this historic experience. We share more pictures from 4th July 2014.
