Decorations to remember all those lost little angels

By Mary Dennehy

A SPECIAL Christmas tree was lit up in Tallaght this year to remember all of the babies lost through pregnancy or infancy, with families invited to visit the tree and place a decoration on its branches for their “little angel”.

Organised by Jobstown resident Melissa Luttrell (21), who lost her first baby through miscarriage, the Tree of Angels was lit up on Saturday, December 10, in the grounds of St Maelruain’s Church in Tallaght village.

Now in its second year, the tree can be visited by members of the community in the run-up to Christmas, with families invited to hang an angel, or any decoration, on its branches to remember their “little angel”.

Melissa also organises, with support from her dad Mark Luttrell, the Light up the Sky event each summer, which also remembers babies and children who have passed away.

Melissa told The Echo: “It’s really important for families to be able to remember their little angel at Christmas time.

“We believe that this tree will give parents, brothers, sisters, grandparents and other family members a place to go to remember their little angel and to place a decoration on the tree that symbolises them.

“The tree also symbolises that as a community we won’t forgot all of these little angels and that they are still with us at Christmas time.”

Canon William Deverell, of St Maelruain’s Church of Ireland, has attended all of the Light up the Sky events and supported the Tree of Angels last year too. 

He told The Echo: “We had the Tree of Angels here in the church grounds last year as well and it’s a really nice way for us to acknowledge and support those who are missing a little angel this Christmas.

“The tree is lit up beautiful and is a gentle reminder that those who have passed on are not forgotten and that their families and community remembers them.

“It also reminds us all that Christmas can be both happy and sad for those who are missing someone from around the table, and the tree is a really nice way of symbolising and acknowledging those not with us this holiday season.”

Families are invited to visit the tree which is to the right-hand side of the church grounds as you enter through the gates.

Anybody who cannot visit the tree is invited to contact the Tree of Angels team, which will place an angel on the tree on your behalf.

Visit the Light up the Sky/Tree of Angels Facebook page for more.