Pupils of Kilteevan National School / Junior Tidy Towns celebrated National Tree Day this week.

The children were busy collecting Acorns, Chestnuts and Beech Nuts and then planted them in one of their Outdoor Classrooms.

The purpose of the initiative is to encourage  schools to get involved in various initiatives from planting trees to learning about their important role in our ecosystem.

Trees and woodlands are rich habitats for biodiversity. In terms of climate change they take carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and aid the cooling of the Earth.

Trees support pollination, species diversity, water and soil quality.

If you want to support planet Earth, one of the best actions you can take is to plant a tree. Well Done Kilteevan National School.

Keep up to date with all Kilteevan NS news and activities  by clicking on the link below.

https://www.kilteevanns.com/

The following is our 22 strong committee for 2020.

Chairperson: Eileen Fahey, Secretary: Marguerite Croghan, Treasurer: Hugh Brennan, Head of Gardening: Lena Coyle, Youth Liaison: Trish Fox.

Ned Gilligan, Fiona Kilmartin, Barney Donlon, David Gibbons, Joe Fox, Gertie Murphy, Mattie Murphy, Ray Clabby, Sean Mooney, Caitriona Dolan, Fiona Coen.

A hearty welcome our Seasonal Committee Members; Sarin Abraham, Bridie Egan, Meabh Egan Kevin Fannon, James Mooney and Kieran Coyle.

We also have the dedicated support of our Junior Tidy Towns team through Kilteevan National School.

The continued support of our numerous anonymous hard working volunteers in the community is very much appreciated also.

We look forward to another fun filled, hard working year and we are asking the entire community to for support for this vitally important environmental initiative. 

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 Kilteevan Tidy Towns Committee has announced that after months of hard work, recent developments on Cloonlarge Loop, are officially completed. The project involved the installation of a Bilingual Trail Map, Way Markers and Information Signs. It also included a small recycled plastic deck with a Story Time Chair and a small library and art box for children and adults.

This project was funded by the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht under the Peatlands Community Engagement Scheme 2019. The scheme was developed to encourage local peatland communities to engage in the conservation and revitalisation of Special Areas of Conservation

The Deck was officially opened by 90-year-old Mattie Murphy and 5 month old Alex Neilan.

Members of Kilteevan Tidy Towns, and the agencies involved gathered together on the deck recently to review the end product. Speaking at the gathering, Eileen Fahey, Chairperson Kilteevan Tidy Towns, stated that success like this could not be achieved without the dedication and hard work of Kilteevan Tidy Towns volunteers. 

“Our committee is very proud of the fact that The Cloonlarge Loop won a Runner -Up Award in 2018 and 2^nd place in 2019 in the Tidy Towns Special Awards Section for Sustainable Development” 

Eileen acknowledged the funding from the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, and the support of the staff at the Peatlands Management Unit in Wexford. The group’s membership of the Community Wetlands Forum was highlighted as being most beneficial in building confidence and learning.

She thanked the O’Brien, family for Knockcroghery for consenting  to the development in memory of their parents the late Hubert and Elizabeth O Brien.

_{Pictured above with the group Batty and Joan O' Brien Knockcroghery}

Great credit was given to Conor Dolan, Paddy Garvey and Patrick Garvey for transforming an ambitious Tidy Towns vision into reality.

Eileen paid special tribute to Laura Gallagher, Conservation Ranger, National Parks and Wildlife Service for her outstanding positive support and advice.

Also thanked for their support, advice and commitment were;

John Mockler, Roscommon Municipal District Coordinator

Eimear Dowd, Tourism Officer, Roscommon Co Council

Eilish Canty, Rural Recreation Development Officer, Roscommon LEADER Partnership

Cathryn Hannon, Regional Manager NPWS

Niall Cribbon, District Conservation Officer (Peatlands)NPWS   

Eileen Fahey pointed out that through the co-operative efforts of Kilteevan Tidy Towns, National Parks and Wildlife Service, Roscommon Co Council, Roscommon LEADER Partnership Company and the local community, new life has been breathed into Cloonlarge boglands. The Loop is now a very popular 5km walk and cycle enjoyed by many locals, families and visitors.  

The ultimate compliment was paid to our work when a local bride and groom came to the Cloonlarge Loop for wedding photographs. A recent walker described the Loop “an oasis of peace and calm”. This is exactly what we wanted to create Eileen stated.

Pictured above

Interagency support for Kilteevan Tidy Towns on the Cloonlarge Loop L/R

Niall Cribbon, District Conservation Officer (Peatlands)National Parks and Wildlife Service, Marguerite Croghan, Secretary Kilteevan Tidy Towns, Eimear Dowd, Tourism Officer, Roscommon Co Council, Eilish Canty, Rural Recreation Development Officer, Roscommon LEADER Partnership, Cathryn Hannon, Regional Manager, National Parks and Wildlife Service, Laura Gallagher, Conservation Ranger, National Parks and Wildlife Service, John Mockler, Roscommon Municipal District Coordinator.

February 5th 2020

Last night September 1^st brought Tidy Towns 2020 to a close in Kilteevan.  While there was no Tidy Towns Competition this year, the committee agreed to work alone or socially distant to keep Kilteevan looking well.

To mark the end of the year, last night Chairperson Eileen Fahey announced that Mattie Murphy was the Volunteer of the Year.  Eileen stated that Mattie at 91 years of age was an inspiration. To paraphrase Ghandi, Eileen said “Mattie is an example of how, in your own gentle, wise way, you can shake the world”.

Congratulations and thank you Mattie for your continuous contribution to your community.

 Offers of help and assistance are always welcome to Kilteevan Tidy Towns.

_{Posted 2 September 2020} 

Excitment is palpable in Kilteevan National School.

Kilteevan Junior and Adult Tidy Towns are preparing and working very hard. Look at this amazing art work by the Junior Classes.

On December 18^th Lilliput Way on the Cloonlarge Loop, Kilteevan was officially opened with a touch of Christmas cheer. Due to government guidelines only 15 people attended this outdoor event. The inclement weather did not dampen the seasonal spirits and joy.

The road was overgrown and had fallen into disuse in recent years. With the benefit of funding from the Peatlands Community Engagement Scheme 2020 and Roscommon Co. Council Community Enhancement Scheme, Kilteevan Tidy Towns reopened and surfaced the road. A Fairy Trail, Signage, Seats, and Living Willow structure were installed.

The road was named Lilliput Way based on the discovery of the remains of a very large Lilliput Turf Cutting Machine on the bog. The group decided to retain remains of the machine as a relic of Kilteevan’s rich heritage and association with turf.

Local men Tommy Dolan and Eamon O Connor who had worked on the Lilliput Machine shared their memories with Kilteevan Tidy Towns about working on the Lilliput Machine. The late Johnny and Paddy Dolan were fondly remembered as original owners of the machine.

Guests of honour were Tommy Dolan and his granddaughter Alannah Dolan, Eamon O Connor and his grandsons Sean Óg, Donnacha and Daniel O Connor. Santa Clause was a totally unexpected surprise guest!

Speaking at the opening Eileen Fahey, Chairperson, Kilteevan Tidy Towns welcomed the guests and described the event as a very special day in the history of the community. She thanked Laura Gallagher, Conservation Ranger, National Parks and Wildlife Service(NPWS) for her continuous support and guidance.She also thanked Niall Cribbon and Cathryn Hannon NPWS.

The positive relationship with Roscommon Council was acknowledged and praised. Eileen thanked Neal Geraghty, Acting Director Roscommon Municipal District, Anthony Mc Dermott and the staff of Roscommon Co Council for their support.

Eileen went on to say that nothing could be done without the goodwill of Tidy Towns volunteers who spend endless hours giving of their time and expertise just for the greater good.

In relation to the Fairy Trail, Eileen said she had to single out Patricia Fox, Kilteevan Tidy Towns, Youth Liaison Officer, for making magic happen. She also thanked Patricia’s husband Mark and their four children Maria, Sean, Mark and Matthew who spent endless hours working in their bubble on Lilliput Way to ensure it was simply beautiful.

The pupils of Kilteevan National School were thanked for the poem Queen Luna’s Plea which they composed especially for Lilliput Way.

Afterwards Tommy Dolan, Eamon O Connor, their grandchildren and Santa were invited to cut the ribbon and officially open Lilliput Way.

After the curtting of the ribbon Laura Gallagher spoke about the importance of Kilteevan’s Special Area of Conservation stating that the area had some of the most pristine boglands in the country.

Cathryn Hannon thanked Eileen Fahey and Kilteevan Tidy Towns for their ground breaking work and said the group was leading the way nationally in relation to community engagement with peatlands.

Following the official opening, Santa in the interest of equality, paid a very socially distant visit to the gate of Kilteevan National School, where he presented the Principal with a basket of healthy, zero waste, personalised treats, for every child in the school. Santa explained to the Principal, Mrs Collette Brennan, that the treats had been quarantined for 14 days at the North Pole.

18 December 2020

Let us give you a glimpse of Lilliput Way Fairy Trail our new project officially opened on December 18th.

This project was funded by The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage under The Peatlands Community Engagement Scheme 2020 with the support of Roscommon Co Council and Kilteevan Tidy Towns.

If you are planning to visit, please respect government guidelines and please take heed of the Advice from the Fairy.

We must continue to protect each other. The light is on the horizon. Let's keep our eyes on the light .