Memorial garden at lake where Leo O'Shaughnessy picked May Day flowers

A SITE has been identified for a memorial garden to remember treasured Castlebar man Leo O'Shaughnessy.

From Market Square in the town, Leo died in May and was a well respected gentleman who had a long tradition of leaving flowers on doorsteps around the town of Castlebar on May Day for many decades. Many of the picked flowers came from the surroundings of the Lough Lannagh walkway.

Leo was well known and had many friends throughout the town, having worked in the hat factory and the bacon factory during his working life.

During a recent gathering of friends it was suggested that a memorial garden should be looked at. After careful consideration a piece of ground was pinpointed as the ideal location, adjacent to the old cemetery and facing towards the Lough Lannagh car park.

This site will be fully developed and already three native Irish silver birch trees have been planted there, while more varieties of yellow flowers are to be planted into the future in memory of Leo.

The unveiling ceremony was conducted by the outgoing cathaoirleach of the Castlebar Municipal District, Councillor Blackie Gavin, Dara and Hilda Dunne, Padraic and Sean Horkan, Shane Rodgers and family members from the Horkan and Rodgers households.