A MEMORIAL stained glass window was unveiled yesterday at CBS The Green in honour of Donal Walsh.
Family, friends and CBS students watched Bishop of Kerry, Ray Browne unveil the piece on Tuesday afternoon.
“It’s an incredible piece, it incorporates family, friends, even strangers who wrote to Donal. It really is a unique piece that celebrates life,” said Donal’s father, Fionnbar Walsh.
The piece features Donal in the centre with his writing on either side of him. His words are surrounded by 50 signatures of people who were involved in Donal’s ‘LiveLife’ campaign which includes the likes of Paul O’Connell, Ronan O’Gara, ‘Voice of Ireland’ judge Bressie and RTE’s Brendan O’Connor. (continued below)
At the unveiling of the Donal Walsh stained glass memorial in CBS The Green were front from left: Bishop of Kerry Ray Browne, CBS The Green Principal Anne O’Callaghan, Elma Walsh, Jema Walsh and Jay Galvin. Back row from left, Fionnbar Walsh and Mary Leen. Photo by Gavin O’Connor.
The beautiful stained glass window is situated in the main hall of the new building and is the brainchild of artist Mary Leen and Tralee Rugby Club’s Jay Galvin.
“By chance I met Jay on the street and we began to speak about Donal. That evening I rang him to ask did he think there should be a memorial done for him?” said artist Mary Leen, creator of the stained glass window.
“He liked the idea, so the next day Jay went to Walsh family and got back to me and said they would like to do it. Between meeting the family, thinking up the concept and finding a venue for the piece we had everything sorted in 48 hours,” she said.
At the unveiling of Donal Walsh’s stained glass memorial in CBS The Green were Jay Galvin and the creator of the stained glass window, artist Mary Leen. Photo by Gavin O’Connor.
“We first decided that it should be put in the oratory in the school, but as the window began to grow it became clear we couldn’t put it in there as the viewer wouldn’t get the full compliment of the piece,” she said.
“Much more people will get a chance to appreciate it in the main hall. When the 6th year students leave it will be the last thing they see and when the first year students arrive it will be the first thing they see,” said Jay Galvin.
“It’s a great idea that I think will speak to people and keep his message forever,” Donal’s sister Jema Walsh said.
“It’s beautiful. You can see a lot of time, dedication and love has gone into it, the colours are stunning, everything about it is just so full of life,” said Principal Anne O’Callaghan.
“Donal will be a source of inspiration for the students who are here now and the ones who have yet to come,” she added.
Scroll down for more pictures…….
At the unveiling of Donal Walsh’s stained glass memorial in CBS The Green were from left: John O’Mahony (Teacher), Barry John Keane, Karen Tobin (Teacher), Anto Cronin (Teacher). Photo by Gavin O’Connor
Members of Tralee Rugby Club at the unveiling of the stained glass memorial in the CBS were from left: Micheal Mullally, John Kelly, James O’Connor and Josh Barnes. Photo by Gavin O’Connor.
At the unveiling of Donal Walsh’s stained glass memorial were from left: Grainne Hayes, Helen O’Connor, Brian Walsh, Caroline Kelly. Photo by Gavin O’Connor
The Green CBS Leaving Cert class look on during the unveiling on Tuesday. Photo by Gavin O’Connor.
The Donal Walsh memorial stained glass window in the main hall of the new building of CBS The Green.
At the unveiling of Donal Walsh’s stained glass memorial were from left: Cormac Coffey, James O’Connor, Hugh Stewart, John Kelly and Jema Walsh. Photo by Gavin O’Connor.
