A young Kilteevan woman, Suzanne Stroker has been selected to compete in the final of the Samsung Dublin Fashion Festival Young Designer of the Year Awards 2014.  Twelve finalists were selected from all over the country to compete for the prestigious title of Young Designer of the Year. The theme of the competition was The Seven Deadly Sins. Suzanne’s creation is currently on display in the Powerscourt Centre Dublin.

The final will take place outside the Bank of Ireland building on College Green Thursday 4^th September.

Suzanne, a solicitor by profession, recently completed a Diploma in Fashion Design in the Dublin Institute of Design.

Suzanne is daughter of William and Bríd Stroker and is a past pupil of Kilteevan National School and Convent of Mercy Roscommon.

Everyone in Kilteevan wishes Suzanne the very best of luck on Thursday evening.

Kilteevan Community Development Group completed a number of successful events as part of National Heritage Week 2014.  One of the encouraging features the weekend was age profile of the attendees.  In keeping with national theme of Heritage Week…. Generations …Family Exploring Heritage Together -the age profile at our events ranged from toddles to octogenarians.

Our opening event on Friday night Birds and Bogs of Kilteevan and Ireland proved most interesting.   The presentation by David Mc Nicholas, Ecologist and Environmental Officer, Woodrow Consultants explained the origin of our bogs and its unique flora and fauna to the well attended audience.

On Saturday we all got outside, relaxed and experienced what the natural world has to offer.  David, ably assisted by Antoin Callaghan led the Bug Hunt at the river adjacent to the Community Centre.  As quality of the water in the stream was deemed very good, it was teeming with interesting bugs.  While bugs were the main focus of this event, David continually alerted us to the identity of passing birds and sharpened our ears to various birdsongs.  We were delighted to have visitors from the United Kingdom at this event one of whom commented in our Visitors Book that this event was very “child friendly”.

 Saturday afternoon’s event Bog Walk, Talk and Bounce completed our programme. We experienced some of what David had talked about on Friday night.  We saw many wild flowers, observed many bird species, butterflies and even met our own insect eating plants! David answered all our questions and at times challenged our thinking.

So what did we bring home with us from Kilteevan Heritage Week Events 2014?

• A greater appreciation on the wealth of natural heritage we have on our doorsteps
• More knowledge about the unique habit that surrounds us here in Kilteevan
• Serious thoughts about conserving and preserving our natural heritage for ourselves and most importantly for future generations.
• A realisation that being outdoors, looking at nature is very relaxing and good for our well being.

We would like to extend a sincere thanks to David Mc Nicholas for his excellent presentations and field work. David’s enthusiasm and personal commitment to his work really shines through and touches those who listen to him.

We look forward to the continued development of Heritage Week events in Kilteevan in the future.

Jack and Grace getting close to nature

Bog Walk. David Mc Nicholas shows us our insect eating plants .

David Mc Nicholas (Woodrow)and Antoin Callaghan (Woodrow)preparing for the Bug Hunt at the bridge in Kilteevan

Bird Watching during our Bog Walk and Talk with David Mc Nicholas 

Claire Mulcahy of Shannonside 104fm News Unit was in Kilteevan Community Centre this morning to learn about our three Heritage Week events that are on tomorrow evening (August 29^th) and Saturday(August 30^th). Claire was very impressed with all our work here in Kilteevan. Thanks for dropping in Claire.

Don’t miss this wonderful opportunity in Kilteevan this weekend to learn with David Mc Nicholas from Woodrow.  All events are free of charge and are for all the family. Full details of the events are on this site.

(L-R): Niamh Fannon, Rebecca Mooney and Enya Reilly from Kilteevan attended a special ceremony in Summerhill College, Sligo in May to receive the gold Pope John Paul II Award which involves partaking in 20 weeks community involvement and 20 weeks parish involvement .Bishop Christopher Jones and Dublin footballer Ger Brennan were among the special guests in attendance. Congratulations to Niamh, Rebecca and Enya.

(L-R): Deacon Seamus Talbot (Kilteevan), Louise McConn (Roscommon town) Niamh Fannon (Kilteevan) Rebecca Mooney (Kilteevan) and Teresa Talbot (Kilteevan) who recently attended the International World Youth Festival in Medjugorje, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Congressman Jim Mc Dermott visited Kilteevan last Thursday afternoon (August 20^th. 2014) during his visit to Ireland.

Congressman Mc Dermott, a man with deep Roscommon roots, experienced a flavour of Kilteevan’s rich history and heritage through his visit.

He visited Kilteevan Community Centre, Kilteevan House Gate Lodge,

Kilteevan’s historic cemetery, Kilteevan’s unique bog landscape and other parts of Kilteevan’s Heritage Trail.  Congressman Mc Dermott chatted with members of the local community whom he met on the tour, one of whom, coincidentally shared a common surname!

During his visit Jim also viewed photographs of Kilteevan Gathering 2013 and was impressed by Kilteevan’s attempt to link with its diaspora.

Jim was presented with a photobook of Kilteevan to mark the occasion of his visit.

Congratulations on your wonderful results. All the hard work was worthwhile.

We wish you well in the future.

You have your wings now but don't ever forget your roots here in Kilteevan.

Go néiri an bothair libh.

We are dependant on the support of volunteers in our community and friends of Kilteevan living outside the community to make everything happen in Kilteevan.

We would like to say a special thank you to the following volunteers who supported the preparation for and execution of three recent summer events in the community.

Your contribution is very much appreciated.

Kilteevan Heritage Trail Walk /Roscommon Lamb Festival, June 2014 Volunteers

Mattie Murphy

Joe Foxe

Clement Collins

Francis Fannon

Cormac Dolan

Patrick Fannnon

Niamh Fannon

Marie Lalwani

Marie Spellman

Joe Davis

Sean Mooney

Adrian Coyle

Barney Donlon

Hugh Brennan

Paul Gilleran

Michael Coyle

Lena Coyle

John Dolan

Kieran Coyle

Ėabha Dolan

Cian Dolan

Michael Fahey

Conor Coen

Fiona Coen

Caitriona Dolan

Pat Mc Manus

Eoghan Brennan

Eileen Fahey

Thanks to Majella Hunt, Director of Services Roscommon Co Council, the staff of Roscommon Co Council ,Paddy Finns, Roscommon People and Roscommon Herald for their support .

Thanks also to Hazel Ryan and Caroline Ryan for beiing a constant source of information on local history and heritage.

 Community Gardening   June 2014, Volunteers

Lena Coyle

Margaret Gilleran

Teresa Gillooly

Eileen Fahey

Gertie Murphy

Bríd Stroker

Michael Coyle

John Dolan

Patricia O Beirne

Conor Coen

Fiona Coen

Our junior members were unfortunately at school. Next time!!

 Féile Samhriadh Kilteevan  June 2014 , Volunteers

 Lena Coyle

Marie Lalwani

Eoghan Brennan

Hugh Brennan

Paul Gilleran

David Gibbons

Larry Brennan

Barney Donlon

Michael Spellman

Caitriona Dolan

Fiona Kilmartin

Sharon Mc Geeney

Noel Maguire

Fiona Coen

Mark Gillleran

Joe Foxe

Aidan Flanagan

Paul Gilleran

Eileen Fahey

Niall Croghan

Marguerite Croghan

Pat Mc Manus

Cian Dolan

Rebecca Mooney

Sean Mooney

Eleanor Mooney

Jonathan Mooney

Marie Spellman

Conor Coen

Margaret Gilleran

Michael Coyle

Michael Egan

John Dolan

Éabha Dolan

Emily Dolan

Laura Croghan

Aileen Croghan

Chloe Kilmartin

Shauna Reilly

Jessica Lalwani

Noilín Hennigan

Sophie Coen

Roisin Coyle

Gwen Maguire

Debbie Porter

Polly Reilly

Martha Fallon

Kathleen McManus

Tracey Owens

Jean Nally

Seamus Beirne

Raffle Sponsors for Féile Samhraidh

 Paddy Finns

Kilteevan Wheelers

Conor Dolan Transport

Shane Gilleran

Kilteevan Community Development Group

Thanks also to St Joseph's GAA Club, Kilteevan Wheelers,Tom Madden of Madden Meats, Paddy Finns and to Roscommon People and Roscommon Herald for their continued support.

We all make mistakes, so if your name has been omitted in error, our apologies but please email us immediately at [email protected] and the matter will be rectified as soon as possible.

The very best of luck to our Rossie Minor Team in the Connacht Minor final in

Mc Hale Park Castlebar tomorrow July 13^th at 12.00 noon. Hopefully our minors will complete a double for our county teams this weekend!  Rossies Abú!

The very best of luck to our Rossie Senior Team who take on Cavan

 in the Qualifier Series in Breffini Park Cavan tomorrow evening (July 12th) at 6.00pm