‘Love does not end with loss’ — Galway opens first remembrance garden for pregnancy and baby loss
Galway city’s first remembrance garden has been opened in honour of families who have walked through pregnancy, infant and baby loss.
An Gairdín Síorghrá, The Garden of Eternal Love, was opened by Galway City Council at Quincentennial Park in Salthill this week.
The garden is a reflective and quiet place that acknowledges the diverse experiences of grief and bereavement faced by individuals and families.
The garden stands as a lasting tribute to the babies remembered there and as a place of solace, understanding and connection for all who visit, the council explained.
Galway City Mayor Cllr Helen Ogbu said the opening is an acknowledgement to families that “your loss matters, your child is remembered, and your grief has a place here.”
“This is a beautiful space, but we must also remember why it was created, to provide a place of remembrance and reflection for families who have experienced pregnancy loss, miscarriage, stillbirth or neonatal death.”
Representatives of Féileacáin, Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Support Ireland; FirstLight; LMC Bereavement; A Little Lifetime Foundation; and The Miscarriage Association of Ireland. © Galway City Council
“I want to recognise the five national bereavement support organisations who were involved in shaping this garden. Their experience and understanding have ensured that this garden has been developed with bereaved families at its heart.”
The garden was a collaborative effort between Galway City Council and various bereavement support organisations. Cllr Clodagh Higgins secured funding in 2024 after constituents raised the need of a memorial space for for families affected by baby loss.
“Because love does not end with loss,” Cllr Ogbu added.