‘Ivy Day’ is celebrated in Ireland on the first Sunday following Oct 7 which was the date of the death of Charles Stewart Parnell, ‘The Uncrowned king of Ireland”. He was buried on Oct 11, 1891 and a woman from Cork sent a wreath of ivy, ”because it was all she could afford”. Mourners took ivy from the walls and placed a sprig in their lapels and this became Parnell’s emblem remembering his death each year. His gravestone is made from Wicklow granite and simply states: “Parnell”. Ivy Day was celebrated on October 13 this year.
