![Pinterest](https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://uknews.evprotec.com/remembrance-10000-knitted-poppies-and-a-brave-irish-nurse/&media=https://uknews.evprotec.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/127607785_0990d00a-842a-48c2-a086-f305cc217500.jpg&description=Image source, Nigel McFarlandImage caption, The poppies were knitted on friendly Fridays by members of the communityMore than 10,000 thousand knitted poppies, an ancient church and a brave Irish nurse.At Tamlaghtfinlagan Parish Church in Ballykelly, County Londonderry, a huge net of poppies cascades down the church tower.They are just one part of the parish's four-day festival of remembrance.The knitting was a labour of love from members of the local community who came together to make the poppies on "friendly Fridays"."We put out an appeal on Facebook and that brought people from outside the church, from different walks of life and faiths," said vestry member Samuel Stewart."They weren't asked where they came from - anyone and everyone came. "Even though the poppies are finished, they still come on Fridays for a cup of tea and a chat."Image source, Nigel McFarlandImage caption, Nigel McFarland took this stunning shot of the church lit up at nightTamlaght is the townland name, which comes from the Irish for burial ground, and Finlagan comes from St Findluganus.Image source, Nigel McFarlandImage caption, Local people have sent in their stories"The current building opened in 1795 and the old churches are a few miles away and are in ruins," Mr Stewart explained.Inside, the church is full of models, displays and pictures, piecing together the village's history."We did an appeal for local parishioners who had been married in the church."We have a lot of RAF stories because of Ballykelly's military history as a Royal Air Force station," adds Samuel.Image source, Nigel McFarlandImage caption, Inside the church are examples of uniforms that would have been wornThere are also local wartime stories on display.One of those is that of nurse Molly McGinnis from Ballykelly who received the Military Medal for her actions in France during World War One.She was one of 147 women who were awarded the medal, just nine of whom were Irish.Her great niece, Rosemary Henderson from Londonde){kind=link}
More than 10,000 knitted poppies, an ancient church and the story of a brave Irish nurse.
At Tamlaghtfinlagan Parish Church in Ballykelly, County Londonderry, a huge net of poppies cascades down the church tower.
They are just one part of the parish’s four-day festival of remembrance.
The knitting was a labour of love from members of the local community who came together to make the poppies on “friendly Fridays”.
“We put out an appeal on Facebook and that brought people from outside the church, from different walks of life and faiths,” said vestry member Samuel Stewart.