Patrick Tierney was one of those buried at Hartwood Paupers Cemetery.

Through the determination of the Friends of Hartwood Paupers Cemetery, Patrick was finally recognised as a First World War soldier and added to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Roll of Honour, with a memorial stone installed in his memory within the cemetery.

Through contacting the Kildare News, the Friends were able to help reconnect Patrick’s family with his story and with his final resting place.

The Tierney family were reunited with Patrick after more than a century at the special service that was held last year in Hartwood, and that connection has continued to grow.

They have remained friends with the Friends of Hartwood Paupers Cemetery and continue to visit Patrick, the volunteers and Hartwood.

The latest project brought about by the Friends, in conjunction with the Lanarkshire Songwriters Group, is now taking Patrick’s story and many others within the cemetery, in another direction, with a songs being written and composed in their memory.

What makes Patrick’s song particularly special is that Patrick’s great-great-great-niece will play her Irish tin whistle on the recording, performing the same tune she played at Patrick’s graveside when the family were reunited with him for the first time in more than a century.

It is incredibly moving to see Patrick’s story continue to develop from finally having his service recognised, to his family being reunited with him, and now to his story being captured through music.

These are the moments that make Hartwood cemetery so special. It is about preserving history, but also about people, reconnecting families, creating friendships and finding new ways to bring the past to life.

A wonderful coming together of family, history, heritage, music and memories, helping to keep Patrick’s story alive alongside the other 1,254 people buried in this wee sacred place.