This Friday June 25 Ability West will launch a memorial “raised garden” to honour the late Christopher (Christy ) St George who worked with Ability West for more than twenty years. As a long-serving member of Ability West, he exemplified the hidden and dedicated lives of service to those with disabilities.
Ability West provides support to more than 460 children and adults with an intellectual disability throughout Galway city and county and Christopher St. George played a major part in this important work.
The raised garden, gifted by the St George family to Ability West, is located at St Joseph’s Training Centre, Newcastle. It is designed by Galway architect Donal Silke, not to be brash or self-illuminating, but to be a useful and interactive focal point for the Ability West community.
Christy’s brother James St George says: “My sister Patricia and brother Padraic and I see the memorial as honouring the deceased and living members of the Ability West Community as much as it does Christy.” The memorial is a small garden feature incorporating an intimate seating area, with walls designed to invite people to sit, rest, and interact. It is physically crafted from natural Irish granite with a peripheral band of paviors forming an ellipse that accommodates 12 recessed ground lights.
The ellipse is intended to represent eternity and the lights are intended to represent the stars.
Architect Donal Silke says: “The concept behind the design of the memorial is inspired by Christy’s warm personal way with people; his unassuming quiet and gentle manner; and his real and active ability to care for others, especially the more vulnerable people among us.”
Ability West chief executive Breda Crehan-Roche said she was delighted with the memorial adding, “Ability West thanks the St George family for the gift of this beautiful interactive garden feature. It will provide enjoyment to all who use it. Christy’s memory will live on.”
