Dedicated on 11 September 2024, this stone monument marks the planting of a sapling taken directly from the “Survivor Tree” at Ground Zero. The original Callery Pear tree was the last living thing rescued from the smouldering rubble following the 9/11 attacks; after being nursed back to health, it was replanted in New York as a profound symbol of hope and resurrection.
Brought to Kinsale by Irish and US firefighters following a cross-country charity cycle, the sapling acts as a living bond between the Garden of Remembrance and Ground Zero. The tree stands as a testament to the ability to endure with a steadfast belief in a brighter future. Together, this living memorial and its accompanying bronze plaque honour all those lost on 9/11, their surviving families, and the heroic first responders who continue to suffer from conditions contracted whilst working at Ground Zero.