Planting of the "Geary Tree" in Stackstown

Planting of ‘The Geary Tree’ at Stackstown

 

On Wednesday the 25^th November 2009 John O’Donoghue TD planted ‘The Geary Tree’ beside the lake at the 9^th hole.

 The tree is to commemorate the late William Geary who lived through three centuries. He was born on the 28^th February 1899 in Ballygran Co. Limerick and died in 2004 in New York aged 105 years.

He was a Garda Superintendent when he was dismissed in 1928 for allegedly taking a bribe from the IRA. He protested his innocence, emigrated to New York, and vowed never to return to Ireland until his name was cleared.

In the ensuing years he wrote to several ministers for justice asking that his case be reviewed and that his good name be restored. It was not until he was over 100 years old that the then Minister for Justice, John O’Donoghue reviewed his case and rightly exonerated him. The Geary Tree was grown from a walnut given by William Geary to D/Gda Jim Hill in New York in 2002 and sown by Noel Burke on William’s Geary’s birthday on the 28^th February 2003. He was made aware that the tree would be planted in Stackstown when it grew to a suitable size.

 

The tree was planted by John O’Donoghue assisted by William Geary’s granddaughter  Carina Markett and the Captain of Stackstown Noel Burke.

The tree can be seen from the clubhouse and will become a significant landmark in the club.

 

For further details on William Geary’s life see

www.irishlifeandlore.com/