Naas welcomes all with ‘Fáilte Forest’
ption: L to R: Sean Guerin Dawn Dairies, with Vourneen Hennessy and Cllr Bill Clear of Naas Tidy Towns, at the new ‘Fáilte Forest’ near the hospital.
If you have recently walked by the lakes near Naas Hospital you will have seen the new ‘Fáilte Forest’, the latest initiative of Naas Tidy Towns.
“This is a thoughtful art installation, with flags representing the nationalities of people living in Naas, and an Irish native tree has also been planted for each nationality,” said cllr Bill Clear, chair of Naas Tidy Towns.
“It is believed that there are people from nearly 60 nations who live in Naas, and this project is a symbol of welcome, inclusivity and respect for these diverse cultures and nationalities.
“Like the forest, we have all rooted in Naas, grow together and live in each other shadows.
The first phase of the project has been generously part sponsored by Dawn Farms and Naas Tidy Towns, and includes trees, posts and flags of 30 nationalities.
The first 30 flags to be chosen were from some of the nationalities of people working in Dawn Farms.
“Without people coming to Naas from other countries the hospital and our care homes, would be without doctors, nurses, carers; our hotels and restaurants without managers, chefs and staff; our factories, businesses and shops without enough workers; our parishes without enough priests; our schools without enough teachers and our community without enough volunteers,” he said.
“The ‘Failte Forest’ initiative acknowledges and respects the multicultural town and community that we live in.
It is hoped to complete the second phase of the project in 2025, finances allowing.
Also, in collaboration with Kildare County Council, Naas Tidy Towns have also recently initiated the ‘Famine Pot’ project at the Famine Graveyard, which will be completed in the next few months, similar to the recent ‘Horse’s Head' project at the traditional watering hole near the lakes.
