THE LORD MAYOR of Dublin will on Monday dedicate a 300-year-old olive tree in Dublin’s city centre to the city of Barcelona.
The unusual dedication in Cow’s Lane is designed to mark 300 years since the Siege of Barcelona, which marked the end of the Spanish War of Succession. At the end of the 13-month siege, the city would fall into the hands of Franco-Castillian troops.
Although ending in defeat, the siege is used to mark the national day of Catalonia.
Dublin and Barcelona have been twinned cities since 1998 and Lord Mayor of Dublin Oisín Quinn says that the dedication is also aimed at acknowledging the cause of human rights.
“It is a great honour for me to dedicate this olive tree to the City of Barcelona. The Cities of Barcelona and Dublin are twin Cities since 1998 and we in Dublin are happy to mark the 300th anniversary of the Siege of Barcelona, a very important time in the history of our sister city.
It is also dedicated to the cause of human rights which is a cause strongly promoted by Bill Shipsey through his global artist engagement programme, Art for Amnesty.
The Deputy Mayor of Barcelona Jaume Ciurana thanked Dublin for the dedication.
“I am extremely grateful for the dedication of this three hundred year old olive tree to my city, Barcelona, and to human rights. With this simple event we are two cities committed from today to extending the cause of freedom and human rights.”
The 300 year old olive tree was donated by Bill Shipsey to the City of Dublin in 2006 and it has been situated in Cow’s Lane since then.
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