Representatives from Kilteevan Tidy Towns and Kilteevan National School were delighted to welcome John Meade from BirdWatch Ireland to the village today. John was carrying out a survey of Swifts in Co Roscommon.

Swifts spend over eight months of the year in Southern Africa. They travel to Ireland each Summer to nest.   From May to August you can encounter Swifts. You will usually hear Swifts before you see them, their distinctive 'screaming' call is uttered on the wing as they fly superbly over rooftops at high speed.

Swifts have adapted to nesting in cavities where found in buildings in our cities, towns, and villages. Their future is seriously threatened in Ireland due primarily to the loss of nesting sites. 

We examined the possibility of nesting sites in Kilteevan today. If you are aware of any Swifts in Kilteevan please let us know. We will continue to learn and work in support of swifts into the future. Our thanks to John Meade for all his advice.

Posted 17 June 2020

On February 21^st 2020, the Department of Rural and Community Development published details of projects to be funded under the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme in collaboration with Fáilte Ireland, the National Tourism Development Authority. The Scheme provides funding for the development and maintenance of outdoor amenities such as trails, walkways, cycleways and blueways.

Following three years of successful and very hard work - Kilteevan Tidy Towns is delighted that the Cloonlarge Loop is one of the projects selected for further development. 

This good news follows on from successful applications by Kilteevan Tidy Towns  to the Outdoor Recreation Scheme in 2017 and the Peatlands Community Engagement  Scheme in 2018 and 2019.

What a wonderful achievement!

Well Done to Kilteevan Tidy Towns and Roscommon Co Council on the successful  2020 application.

We look forward to the exciting new phase of development.  Kilteevan and Cloonlarge are once again on the map!

Below details of the funding for 2020 under the Outdoor Recreation Scheme.

ROSCOMMON Under Measure 2

Cloonlarge Walk/Cycleway Construction of walkway with Cycle route.

Cloonlarge Loop, Co. Roscommon €200,000

 _{Posted February 22nd 2020} 

Please note, that due to the inclement weather ,the event on Sunday 16th Re-imagining Roscommon has been postponed. We look forward to rescheduling this event soon again. Watch this space.

Posted Friday 14 February  1.30pm

 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

Thanks to an innovative programme by Roscommon Leader Partnership, Kilteevan has a new Biodiversity Action Plan.

Kilteevan Community Biodiversity Action Plan for 2019 – 2023 was presented to Kilteevan Tidy Towns at a special event in Gleeson's on Monday night.

The plan was drawn up following training, consultation and field trips with representatives of Kilteevan Tidy Towns over the Summer of 2019.  Nine members took part in this course. Kilteevan Tidy Towns was also presented with a certificate for participation the process.

The Action Plan was created by Billy Flynn, Deborah D'Arcy and Sean Meehan. This plan will be used to guide the work of Kilteevan Tidy Towns for the next three years.

 The goal of Kilteevan Tidy Towns is to protect our biodiversity for the benefit of future generations through a series of targeted strategies and actions.

Kilteevan Tidy Towns would like to express a sincere  thanks to Denise Mc Donnell LEADER, and to Billy, Deborah and Sean.

_{Posted 10th October 2019}

Members of Kilteevan Tidy Towns have recently undertaken Biodiversity Training provided by Roscommon LEADER Partnership Company.   Kilteevan Tidy Towns is currently developing a Biodiversity Plan with the support of Flynn Furney Environmental Consultants. As part of the planning consultation process, we are inviting people in the Kilteevan area, interested in biodiversity to complete and return the survey form below by July 10th 2019.

Click on the link below  to view the form, download and complete the form.

Flynn_Furnry_Consultation_July_2019.jpg

Congratulations to Kilteevan National School on raising their 5th Green Flag today for Biodiversity. Special guest Eanna Ní Lamhna was on hand to raise the flag before inspecting the school’s wonderful garden and grounds for Roscommon County Council’s “Pollinator Award”.

A large crowd of parents, grandparents, local residents, Cllr Orla Leyden, Suzanne Dempsey, Environmental Awareness Officer and Nollaig Feeney, Heritage Officer, Roscommon County Council witnessed the wonderful work the pupils and staff have done to complete what can only be described as a “little piece of heaven” in the centre of Kilteevan. Well done! 

_{Posted June 20th 2019}

Pupils from St Coman’s Wood National School enjoying the indoor and outdoor classrooms in Kilteevan with their Bog and Nature Guide Eileen, on May 17th.

Photos also show children receiving awards for the Wildlife Art Competition from well-known artist Annette Gaffney.

You can clearly see how much  the pupils enjoyed the wood carvings on the Loop by another local  very talented artist.