News

Mayor to Launch Baby Loss Awareness Week Event and Timeless Tiles Memorial Initiative

5 October 2026

The Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council will host a special event in the Guildhall on Monday 12 October to mark the beginning of Baby Loss Awareness Week and launch a unique memorial project for bereaved parents across the Council area.

Taking place in the Whittaker Suite at 12 noon, the event will introduce a series of Timeless Tiles workshops being delivered by the White Butterfly Foundation in partnership with Derry City and Strabane District Council.

The workshops will provide bereaved parents with an opportunity to create personalised memorial tiles in memory of their children. The tiles will form part of a permanent memorial structure within the Garden of Angels at the City Cemetery, creating a lasting tribute to babies who have died and a place of reflection for families.

The initiative follows the approval of a proposal at Council’s Business and Culture Committee meeting earlier this year, from the White Butterfly Foundation to erect the memorial within the Garden of Angels. Council's Health and Community committee is supporting the delivery of the workshops and encouraging participation from families throughout the district.

Mayor of DCSDC, Councillor Grace Uí Niallais said, "Baby Loss Awareness Week is a time to remember and honour babies who are no longer with us, while recognising the profound impact that loss can have on parents, families and communities. Through this partnership with the White Butterfly Foundation, we hope to provide a meaningful opportunity for families to come together, share their experiences and create a lasting tribute to their children. I would encourage any parent affected by baby loss, whether recently or many years ago, to join us and find out more about this very special initiative."

Founder of The White Butterfly Foundation, Selina Casey, said: “This project means so much to us at the White Butterfly Foundation because behind every tile is a baby who was deeply loved and a family who has carried that love and loss with them.

“For so many parents whose babies do not have a resting place, there has never been somewhere tangible to go, somewhere to say their baby’s name, or somewhere to simply sit and remember. This memorial will create that space. What makes it particularly special is that the memorial will be created by the families themselves. Each individual tile will tell a story, represent a precious little life and ensure that these babies are remembered as part of our community.

“We want families to know that it does not matter whether your loss happened recently or many years ago. There is no time limit on love, and there is no time limit on remembering your baby. If you have lost a baby and have never had the opportunity to create a lasting memorial, we want you to know that there is now a place for you and your baby. We are incredibly grateful to Councillor Aisling Hutton and Derry City and Strabane District Council for working with us to make this possible. We hope families will come along to the Guildhall on 12 October, hear more about the project and become part of something that will remain in Derry for generations to come.”

Councillor Aisling Hutton, who brought the proposal forward to Council, said: "I am delighted to see this project progressing and to be launching it during Baby Loss Awareness Week. The Timeless Tiles workshops will offer parents a creative and supportive space to remember their children and contribute to a memorial that reflects the love and memories they carry with them every day. We want parents who have experienced loss, whether recently or historically, to know that they are welcome and that this project is for them."

Representatives from the White Butterfly Foundation will be on hand at the launch event to provide information about the workshops and the wider support available through the organisation.

Parents wishing to participate in the Timeless Tiles workshops will be able to register their interest at the launch event.