An Cosantóir

www.military.ie the defence forces magazine | 27 T he Marist community in Athlone marked both their own bicentenary and the 100 anniversary of the 1916 rising with the unveiling of a special commemorative garden in the school recently. the 1916 Garden was the main event planned by the Marist College in Athlone to mark the worldwide celebrations of 200 years of Marist education. The official opening was held over until 2017 in order to coin- cide with the Bicentenary Celebrations of the Marist Order. The garden is located on a parkland site within the College grounds on Retreat Road and features seven tall trees which represent the seven signatories of the Proclamation. A copy of the Proclamation was placed in the garden, and the Tricolor was jointly raised by Marie Leahy a representa- tive of the Parents Association, Annemarie Sheehan, from the Board of Management, and Fr Seamus Donohoe from the Franciscan Friary, whose late mother, Helena, was a sister of General Sean McEoin, who played a key role in the events surrounding the Easter 1916 Rising. "Marist College had decided last year to undertake some project to honour 1916 so we approached Westmeath County Council for funding and they gave us a grant, and the remainder of the funding for the Garden came from our very generous local businesses and from our past pupils," explained Grainne Dunican from the Parents Association. The Band of the 2 Brigade from Custume Barracks, conduct- ed by Captain Tom Kelly, provided the musical entertainment. The Marist Brothers worldwide are celebrating 200 years this year. On January 2, 1817, Fr Marcellin Charnpagnat welcomed two young men into a house he rented for them in La Valla, France. Now known as Founder's Day, it was the be- ginning of the first Marist school. This article appeared in the Westmeath Indepenent recently and is published here with their kind permission. by WESTMEATH INDEPENDENT PhotoS OLIVER HORGAN AtHlonE CElEBrAtES 1916 CEntEnAry Pictured L/R: Mr Tony Colgan, Principal, Capt James Dunlea, Capt Tom Kelly, Band 2 Brigade, Grainne Kearney and Marie Leahy (both Parents Association). The Band of the 2 Bde, conducted by Captain Tom Kelly. Pictured L/R: Gearoid O'Brien, Historian and Librarian Athlone, Grainne Dunican, Marie Leahy (both Parents Association), Fr Seamus Donoghue OFM, Athlone, Annmarie Sheehan, Board of Management, Marist College and Fr Liam Kelly OFM, Chaplin Marist College, Athlone.

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