Launch of Song of Kilteevan a Resounding Success

On Saturday, December 3rd Kilteevan Community Centre was packed to capacity to celebrate the launch of Song Of Kilteevan composed by Sr Kathleen Glennon (lyrics) and Ms. Miriam Hunt (music).
Mr Michael Spellman, Chairperson of Kilteevan Community Development Group welcomed the gathering and thanked them for attending.
A special word of welcome and thanks was extended to Ms Richenda Reid who acted as Irish Sign Language Interpreter for the event.
Sr Kathleen Glennon, spoke briefly about how the great work carried out by the local community in developing Kilteevan had inspired her to write the Song of Kilteevan. “The words came easy” she said, “the brown turf of the bog is in my soul”.
Mrs Phil Reilly, a long standing Kilteevan resident, formally launched the two track CD. Mrs Reilly said she was honoured to be invited to launch the CD and that she hoped everyone would enjoy it. She congratulated Kathleen and Miriam on their wonderful composition. She said the fact that her two granddaughters Enya and Shauna Reilly and her late husband Paddy were singing on the CD made it very special for her.
To a hushed audience, Enya Reilly performed Song of Kilteevan (Track 1 on the CD) accompanied on piano by Miriam Hunt. The audience rose to their feet in a standing ovation in appreciation.
Eileen Fahey, manager of the project, commenting on The Song of Kilteevan said aspects of Kilteevan’s heritage are now immortalised in this beautiful song. “Long after we are gone, our heritage will be commemorated in Song of Kilteevan”, she said.
Eileen then introduced a video to accompany the new song which also received also a standing ovation.
A brief history of the traditionally held story in relation to James Hickey (composer of Track 2 on the CD) The Groves of Kilteevan, was provided by Eileen Fahey. Enya Reilly then introduced her late grandfather Paddy Reilly singing The Groves of Kilteevan. This was a recording which was made by Mrs Gertie Brady, Clooncraff c. 2000. The recording was digitised for inclusion on the new CD.
Paddy Reilly’s poignant, haunting and soulful rendition of The Groves brought tears to many eyes.
Presentations were made to Mrs Phil Reilly, Miriam Hunt, Kathleen Gleenon,
Eileen Fahey and to Eamon Ó Dálaigh, Midland Sound Equipment, who generously donated many hours of his time, expertise and resources to this project.
The following singers and musicians who collaborated in the production were thanked; Shauna Reilly, Joe Healy, Adrian Harrington and Patrice Coyle.
Charlotte Ó Dálaigh and Michael Barry who produced the beautiful video were also thanked.
The co- sponsors of the project, Reimas Developments and the Sisters of Mercy, Western Province, received words of gratitude.
Entertainment at the launch was provided by Michael Banahan, Tommy Murray,
Pat Devaney and Tom Brady.
Messages of congratulations and good wishes were received from
Denis Naughton Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment
Catherine Zaponne Minister for Children and Youth Affairs
Dr Louise Gilligan
Professor Micheál O Súilleabháin
Fr Tommy Harlow
John Brennan, Outgoing Director CIA, USA

Song of Kilteevan,. a unique limited edition CD can be purchased at just €5 from Kilteevan Community Development Group.

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Kilteevan National School are very proud of their recently completed School Sensory Garden / Outdoor Classroom. The students, staff, parents and the wider community worked together on this project. The garden, which has a seating area, provides an outdoor classroom to help develop the creativity and imagination of all the students. The garden incorporates all aspects of our Green School flags to date – a compost area (litter), wind-turbine (energy), water harvesting system (water) and footsteps (travel). Next year we are aiming for our Biodiversity Flag – the garden is a haven of colour with flowers and trees, which attract birds, bees, butterflies and all kinds of mini-beasts. The children are keeping a close eye on activity in the garden especially in the bug hotel. The sensory area invigorates the children’s sense of smell, hearing, touch, sight and taste. The children are really looking forward to tasting the herbs in the herb garden and the apples have already been harvested from our two apple trees.

Much appreciation is due to the parents and community who supported our recent coffee morning and volunteered to help repaint the surrounding fence. Roscommon County Council awarded our school a grant of €900 for our project “Inviting Biodiversity to live in our Outdoor Sensory Classroom” for which we are very grateful.

A great crowd turned out at Paddy Finn’s on August 12^th for the Race Night in Aid of the development of Kilteevan community park. An amazing total of €8000 was raised in the run up to the event and on the night. There was lots of merriment to had too with many having a chuckle as some of the chosen horse names such as “Usain Colt”, “Red Hot Filly Pepper” and “I Miss The Pub”! All the owners of the winning horses from the night were entered into a draw where four names were pulled out, each one winning a prize. There results were as follows:

1^st Prize: €200- Seamus Regan

2^nd Prize: €150- PJ Lynch

3^rd Prize: €100- Bernie Crawley

4^th Prize: €50- Conor Coen

The final race of the night was the auction race and there was more a hot contest for horse number 7. First past the post in the auction race was “The Blow In” owned by Anne Marie Bance and ridden by Conor Dolan!

The committee would like to thank all the race sponsors and to all those who bought a horse. We’d also like to thank Paddy Finns who were very generous sponsors of the race card and were as always great hosts.

There was a great turnout at the annual St. Joseph's Table Quiz in Paddy Finns on Friday 18th March with 26 Tables clambering for a win. 10 rounds of questions, a picture round and 10 dingbats later a winner all right was declared with Linda Carroll, Paddy Smyth, Aidan Mulry and John Gaynor taking the top prize. There was a tie for second with two teams splitting the prize. The first table was made up of Frank Gilleran, Alison Cullivan, Liam McManus and John Devany on one team and the second team made up of Will Keane, Pauric Murphy, Johnny Keeley and Eileen Keeley. The Quiz was Follow by a bumper raffle. St Jospeh's would like to thank all the prize sponsors, question markers and all those who attended. A total of €1800 was raised on the night.

A great crowd gathered in the Community Centre on Sunday Morning for the Daffodil Day Coffee morning. The catering team had the hall well decked of in an array of yellow ballons, streamers and naturally daffodils! Thank you to all the bakers who did not dissapoint when it came to providing the community with an array brownies, buns and scones! Thanks to Shirley Spellman of Future Flowers who provided a beautiful floral bird table and to Maureen O'Donavan for wine and chocolates, all were given away in a draw for all of attended. Special thanks is due as always to the catering team who kept the show running behind the scenes. A great time was had by all and the Kilteevan Community Group was delighted to give the  donations to Irene Beirne for the Irish Cancer Society. The final figure of donation was €623. Thank you again for your generosity.

Despite heavy frosts a massive crowd decended on Kilteevan community centre last Friday night for the first Social Dance hosted be Kilteevan Community Development Group. The Band, J&S Sound kept dancers on the floor late into the night and despite the harsh weather those dancing inside the centre were kept warm with a selection of waltz’s and jives. As well as filling attendees dance cards the much anticipated raffle was held, the winners were:

€100 Cash (Killteevan Gun Club) – Housing Staff Longford County Council

€100 Cash (Kilteevan Wheelers) – Tommy Quinn

€100 Voucher (Rachel Feeley Designs) – Shane Hegarty, Donegal

€100 Hamper (Castlemine Farm Shop) – Tom Killion, Carrawmore

€100 Voucher (Gannons Furniture) – John Gaffney

€100 Cash (St. Joseph’s GAA) – Albert Looby, Kileenboy

€100 Voucher (Top Oil Ltd.) – Margaret Smith, Kileenboy

€100 Voucher (Service Matters) – Eileen Mc Guinness, Enfield, Co. Meath

€100 Cash (Triest Press Ltd.) – Charlie O’Reilly, Strokestown

€100 Voucher (Tesco) – Peter Murtagh, Newtowncashel

The next Social Dance will take place in Kilteevan on Friday April 22^nd with music from the Liam Mannering Band.

A large crowd gathered in Kilteevan Community Centre on Sunday 13th December to

enjoy a tea party celebration after all the activtiy in the community that ultimately led to

the village being awarded a runner up Prize in the “Pride of Place” national awards held

earlier this year.

At the celebration the new chair person, Michael Spellman made a speech thanking all

the people who had made the community a nation talking point. “It has been the

constant efforts of hundreds of people that have brought us to where we are today. 13

years ago we had a enthusiastic community however the community centre was in dire

need of restoration and the community needed to be brought together. With the

formation of the Kilteevan Community Development Group we are now the envy of

many community groups around the country”

Three of the original directors of the development group Eileen Fahey, Fiona Coen and

Hugh Brennan were honored at the event, “It is a testement to their hard work over the

last 13 years that we have such a wonderful space to hold this event in today. To the

people of Kilteevan when one mentions Eileen, Fiona or Hugh the words “Community

Spirit” is the first to mind.

Michael also mentioned the newly formed tidy towns group who have been busy litter

picking, flower planting and other activites to spruce up the crossroads village and

whose efforts were rewarded with a high first score in the competition.

To top off a great evening there was a very special visitor from the North Pole.

Check out the Gallery Below!

The last few months have been very busy at Kilteevan Community School! A Visit from the Bishop, taking part in the Science Fair, the shoe box appeal, Set Dancing Classes and of course Halloween!

Kilteevan N.S. have also had success in the Roscommon Credit Union Art Competition where Sean Fox was awarded 3rd place in the Under 7 competition and Lauren O'Connor was also awarded 3rd in the 8-10 category.

Our quiz team of Kate Cunningham, Cormac Dolan, Noah Fallon and Adam Connolly came 4th in the recent Library Quiz.

Kilteevan NS are also very busy preparing for our 4th Green Flag which is the Travel Flag. We organised a walk to school recently and some more events are being organised for the New Year.