Black coffins draped in branches were borne by moving "shrubs" through the centre of Galway at the weekend as part of a 24-hour protest over plans to remove up to 90 trees from Eyre Square.
Or "Bare Square" as one of the placards read, predicting how the city centre would look if Galway City Council's landscaping plans are realised.
Members of the Galway Environmental Alliance braved bitter west to north-west winds to hold an all-night vigil. A candle was lit shortly before midnight on Friday and extinguished 24 hours later when the protesters dismantled their "Tree Embassy" at the top of the square, near the statue of Pádraic Ó Conaire. Hundreds of signatures were collected for a petition to keep the trees, and the city's two Labour councillors, Mr Tom Costello and Ms Catherine Connolly, pledged their support.
Mr Niall Ó Brolchain of Galway's Green Party and co-ordinator of the environmental alliance, said he had never experienced anything like the level of anger among Galway people over the issue.
Many people had not been fully aware that the landscaping would see so many of the trees removed, some of which were planted by former mayors and visiting politicians, including the late US president, John F. Kennedy.
Ms Sheila Gallagher of the alliance, best known for her work on restoring the Nora Barnacle House in Galway with her sister, Mary, said she was very heartened by the support given to the protest by businesses around Eyre Square.
"Throughout Friday night we received vouchers for coffees, hot whiskeys, food from every single premises around here. That speaks volumes for how they feel about this," she said.
Members of the Colours Street Theatre group formed the nucleus of a protest parade through the city centre on Saturday, supported by Niall O'Flynn's African drumming group. Children were invited to jump on a horse named Mabel and make dreamcatchers and St Brigid's crosses during speeches after the parade.
Galway City Council has said it will replant the square as part of the plan, which involves a series of terraces. Mr Derrick Hambleton, chairman of the Galway branch of An Taisce, said the only reason the trees were to be removed was that the terracing would expose their roots. "They should have redesigned the square around the trees, rather than the other way," he said.
An Taisce was one of the appellants to An Bord Pleanála over the environmental impact statement. The appeals board approved permission late last year for the landscaping, but directed that 11 of the square's 100 trees be retained or transplanted close to their present position, along with another nine which were earmarked for retention.
Mr Paddy Cunningham, a horticulturist who grew up within a stone's throw of Eyre Square, disputed the city council's contention that some of the trees were not healthy enough to survive.
"Ninety per cent of the trees here have nothing wrong with them. There may be five at most that are not in good shape, but a dead tree has its part to play in the environment, too," he said.
Mr Hambleton said An Taisce would appeal to Europe if necessary, and would ask that funding for the project be withdrawn so more time could be given to a more acceptable redesign.
