Remembrance Tree tradition kept alive by Kilkenny Rotary Club

It's not Christmas in Kilkenny without the striking, festive tree, twinkling out from the Parade. The Christmas tree is more than just a city decoration, it is a focal point for the annual Kilkenny Rotary Remembrance Tree fundraising project.

Every year the members of the Kilkenny Rotary Club volunteer to raise funds for well deserving local charities. This year the beneficiaries will be the Carlow Kilkenny Homecare Team and Cois Nore Cancer Support Centre. Both services are vital in our community and there isn't a family in Kilkenny that has not benefitted from the support and dedicated care offered by both organisations. (10% of funds will also be donated to the Rotary Foundation.)

In the almost 20 years of the fundraising efforts, Rotary Kilkenny has raised more than €250,000 for local charities.

This year the Kilkenny Rotary volunteers will be collecting at three locations around the city - SuperValu in Loughboy, SuperValu in Newpark Shopping Centre and on The Parade at the Yulefest market.

As well as fundraising the Rotary volunteers will invite people to write a name or dedication on a card to remember someone they have lost. All these cards will be central to the annual Remembrance Service, which will be held at 11am on Christmas Eve at the Christmas Tree on The Parade. Everyone is invited to come along for the short service that will include ecumenical blessings and festive singing from Kilkenny Gospel Choir - a moment to remember our loved ones in the midst of the busy, festive season.

If you come across the volunteers collecting, later this week, please be generous. You'll meet the Rotary Kilkenny volunteers on Thursday, December 19, and Friday, December 20, at SuperValu Newpark; on Saturday, December 21, at SuperValu Loughboy, and there will also be bucket collectors on The Parade on Saturday.

Kilkenny Rotary Club is grateful for the support of UPMC for the Remembrance Tree appeal.