Minister to attend ceremony in Kilkenny as county remembers missing persons

Kilkenny’s Missing Persons national monument has now been on the grounds of Kilkenny Castle for 21 years, having been unveiled by then President Mary McAleese on May 26, 2002.

The occasion of its 21st year in situ in Kilkenny Castle will be marked with a special gathering at the monument on Sunday at midday and an address from Minister for Justice and Higher Education, Simon Harris.

Created by local artist Ann Mulrooney, the eight-feet-high lattice-style bronze sculpture commemorates missing people in Ireland.

The monument, which features the handprints of family members of the missing, was commissioned by a trust established by the late Mary Phelan, from Callan, Co Kilkenny, whose sister, Ms JoJo Dullard has not been seen since November 1995.

Deputy John McGuinness who has been a strong advocate for missing persons and the case of JoJo Dullard, assisted in securing the funding for the monument and has helped to arrange an annual gathering to commemorate missing persons along with Fr. Willie Purcell and the Dullard family.

 “I’m delighted that Minister Simon Harris has accepted our invitation and he will join us on this important occasion as we ensure that all of those that have disappeared without a trace are not forgotten and the search for evidence that may lead us to a final conclusion will always continue,” said Deputy John McGuinness.

“There are many families throughout the country still searching for answers. Locally I always think of JoJo Dullard and Dean Roche. It’s heart-breaking to think that JoJo’s sister Mary and Dean Roche's mother Geraldine both passed away without any answers and there are so many families that share that pain. I hope this monument brings some kind of solace to them, but I also hope that these gatherings help to raise awareness and encourage anybody that has any information, no matter how small, to come forward,” he said

“This year we reach a milestone in that our missing persons monument is in place 21 years on the grounds of Kilkenny Castle. Like every year, we will meet and commemorate those missing persons from all over the country, we will join with their families and friends and pray for them. This monument has served as a place of prayer and reflection for those people who do not have a grave to visit, but also as a place of remembrance,” said Fr. Willie Purcell.

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 People are advised to meet at the entrance to Kilkenny Castle at 11:30am on Sunday. There will then be a walk to the monument where there will be prayer and reflection, music by Kilkenny Gospel Choir and an address from Minister Simon Harris.