BERKELEY — “They lived and laughed and loved and left,” by Irish writer James Joyce, is the first line of the permanent memorial plaque unveiled here Saturday at the Library Gardens Remembrance Ceremony.
About 100 people gathered at Martin Luther King Jr. Civic Center Park to honor and remember the six Irish and Irish-American students who died on June 16, 2015, when an apartment balcony collapsed.
Ashley Donohoe, 22, from Rohnert Park; and Olivia Burke, Eimear Walsh, Eoghan Culligan, Nick Schuster and Lorcán Miller, all 21 years old and from Ireland, died and seven others were injured. They had come to the United States for the summer to work and were celebrating a friend’s 21st birthday in a fifth-floor apartment at 2020 Kittredge Street, then known as Library Gardens apartment complex. Thirteen were on the balcony when it collapsed, sending them down to the sidewalk below.
The plaque has been placed near two strawberry trees, native to both Ireland and California, that were planted in a ceremony Oct. 28, 2015, attended by then-mayor Tom Bates and Ireland President Michael D. Higgins.
“There are no marking on the trees to tell anyone why the trees are important or why they’re planted there,” said Stefan Elgstrand, assistant to the mayor. “That’s why we wanted to do a plaque, a permanent reminder of what took place and who these young people were.”
The ceremony began with Irish Consul General Robert O’Driscoll welcoming family members, including Ashley Donohoe’s parents Jackie and George Donohoe and sister Amanda Donohoe; parents of Eimear Walsh, Patricia and Jim Walsh; and Gavin Burke, brother of Olivia Burke, as well as Berkeley Mayor Jesse Arreguin and US Ambassador to Ireland Dan Mulhall.
George Donohoe and Jim Walsh unveiled the plaque, and family members placed six white roses at the base of the plaque and two bouquets of flowers at the foot of the strawberry trees.
Throughout the remembrance ceremony and the speeches that followed the theme of tragedy and sorrow was joined by those of thanks and appreciation to the first responders and the community, both local and far-reaching, who rallied together and have grown stronger for the effort.
Father Brendan McBride spoke of the deep impression the incident left and told listeners that hearts go out to the families. “I bless the six, pray they are at peace and with one another,” he said.
After O’Driscoll read the inscription on the plaque, the ceremony moved to Old City Hall.
Ambassador Mulhall addressed the room, reinforcing the effect of the tragedy, not only on the families, but also on Irish people everywhere, and the importance of remembering the six who lost their lives. He also gave recognition to Jackie Donohoe who has worked toward improving regulations toward codes and building safety.
“I wanted to come here to pay tribute to the Irish community in the Bay Area and the Berkeley community who rallied around the families of the deceased and the injured and supported them so strongly over a long period of time,” Mulhall said. “I also wanted to thank the local authorities, the mayor, police service, fire service, first responders, that were such a huge help to the Irish families of those who died or were injured during the time they spent here.”
Mayor Arreguin spoke of the city’s long connection to the Irish people, reminding listeners that in 1850 the city took its name in honor of Irish bishop and philosopher George Berkeley and that Berkeley is now a prime destination for summer students. He described the sorrow the city felt, calling it one of the most tragic days in the city’s history and how important it is to remember the lives of the six young people and to honor them.
“The city of Berkeley, right after this tragic incident, worked to strengthen building code standards for balconies and other exterior elements and that’s now become the law of the state of California so that this tragedy does not happen again in the future,” he said. “It’s also important that we reflect on what happened and honor the young people and thank our first responders who jumped immediately into action to save lives of young people.”
Celine Kennelly, executive director of the Irish Immigration Pastoral Center, concluded the ceremony with sentiments expressed by everyone, adding that this event was a celebration of life, a reflection on what it means to be far from home and the importance of a strengthened community.
The last line of the plaque reads “Ar scath a cheile a mhaireann na daoine,” spoken by President Higgins when he visited Berkeley in 2015. Loosely translated it means “we all live in the shadow of each other.”