Each year Claremorris and District Lions Club supports National Tree Week, by selling trees to the public, and giving one hundred percent of the money raised to charities working on the ground in and around Claremorris.
Speaking in Claremorris Town Hall Theatre last week, at the launch of this year’s appeal, James Preston, the local Lions President, explained how the appeal works.
"Before the pandemic, people would buy a tree or trees from us, from the concourse of shops, and take them home and plant them on their own ground,” James said. “Last year, with the restrictions in place, we were unable to hold our Tree Appeal in the traditional way so we enlisted the help of the students from St Colman’s College and Mount St Michael. To make it work, we switched to online purchasing, and the students planted the trees on behalf of the purchasers, in public spaces around Claremorris. This was a wonderful success."
James said that working with the students was a tremendous experience for the Lions, "We couldn’t get over the enthusiasm of the students and teaching staff, of the schools, for the project. It was such an uplifting experience amid the restrictions and all the doom and gloom around at the time, and I must say on behalf of the Lions, that the conduct of the students of both schools, was exemplary. They went about the planting very professionally. We couldn’t believe how quickly they worked. They were a credit, not only to themselves, but to their families, their teachers and their schools.”
James said that this year the trees will be sold in person at SuperValu Claremorris, on March 4 and 5 and online for the month of March.
"We are very grateful to SuperValu for their support, and this year when we asked for permission, Damien Hall the Manager was delighted to support the work of the Lions once again. So anybody who wants to buy a tree and plant it on their land will have the opportunity to do so, and those who don’t have the space or can’t plant a tree themselves for whatever reason, can support the project online."
Seán Heneghan of Heneghan Forestry Service, has again donated the trees this year and he added: "We are donating silver birch trees. They are a native species to Ireland and grow very easily in Irish soil and in the Irish climate. If you are cutting through peat, you will find preserved silver birch trees dating back thousands of years. Silver birch is an excellent species for the environment. It can sustain over one hundred types of insects and birds. It is self-propagating – if you plant silver birch, many others will grow up around them over time. It is also a very elegant tree – its leaves are green in summer and yellow in autumn."
Seán congratulated the students on planting the trees last year: "It was great that they could step in,” he said, “and carry on the work with the Lions, in the circumstances. It is a good experience for the students. Protecting the environment is important, and can be done in many ways. We need to plant more trees in Ireland, and I hope there is an even bigger uptake this year. We’re delighted to support the project."
Money raised by the tree appeal and other fundraising activities is distributed to charities in the area. One such recipient organisation is the Claremorris branch of the Red Cross.
"The support of the Lions has been a key ingredient in the expansion of our service," Ger McCallig, the branch Chairperson said. "When the pandemic struck, we began delivering food to the needy of the area. We have delivered over forty thousand meals since April 2020. We did three hundred and seventy-two collections of surplus food from Tesco and Aldi stores in Claremorris – over seventeen tonnes. The support of the Lions has been invaluable, funding our fuel costs."
Anyone wishing to support the appeal can call to SuperValu, Chapel Lane, Claremorris on March 4 and 5 and online on the Lions Club Facebook page, for the month of March.
