KILTEEVAN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT GROUP LIMITED
Kilteevan, Roscommon, Co. Roscommon
[email protected]
KILTEEVAN TIDY TOWNS
[email protected]
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Kilteevan Tidy Towns Supporting the All Ireland Pollinator Plan 2021- 2025
Our wild bees are in trouble, but you can help by supporting the New All-Ireland Pollinator Plan 2021-2025.
If our wild bees could talk, they would ask us to do two things
- Let our hedgerows flower
- Let grassy areas bloom
If we did this across the island it would provide a range of native wildflowers throughout the life cycle of our wild bees and other insects and give them a fighting chance for the future.
“To humans, neatly manicured grass might look tidy, but to our wildlife it must look a bit like the apocalypse!
Shortly mown grass doesn’t support biodiversity – longer grass supports a myriad!”
Thankfully it’s easy to reverse things – just cut less often to give the slower growing wildflowers a chance to flower amongst the grass!
In 2020, Thanks to reduced mowing and more Dandelions, Biodiversity Ireland had more solitary bee records submitted than ever before! It really does make a difference!
Pollinators need more areas of native flower-rich grassland – no matter how small – in order to find enough food.
Please Don’t Mow, let it Grow
Pledge your Garden for Pollinators on link below
Work in Preparation of Kilteevan Memorial Garden
Despite Covid gatecrashing all our lives Kilteevan Tidy Towns continued to work safely in the great outdoor to lift spirits, keep connected, keep well and do good.
.A lot of voluntary time energy and expertise went into preparing and developing our little garden of remembrance.
January - We walked around the village together and discussed possibilities. Plan A was agreed but due to unforseen circumstances it had to be dropped. Thinking caps went on again and Plan B was agreed.
February 2021 - Discussions toolk place with local stonemason Mark Feely ,
March 2nd - The memorial plaque was commissioned .
9th March - White Roses purchased
March 13th - We gathered to prepare a small Memorial Garden to celebrate Irelands Decade of Centeraries. The bed was dug out and soil prepared.Seven white rose trees were plantred.
March 20th - 5 guests innvited to perform and attend the unveiling ceremony
March 30th- Proofing and final sign off on the plaque
April 3rd - Mark Feely stonemaon set the plaque in place after sunset on Easter Saturday night
April 10th -Pollinator friendly white fllowers were purchased
April 11th - Flowers were planted
April 11th - April 16th the garden was covered every night to protect it from severe frost,
April 14th Finishing touches were added- individula blocks bearing the name of each signatory of the Irish Proclaimation.
April 15th We ensure the National flag is flying on the Community Centre and on Kilteevan Natioal School to mark the historical occasion.
April 15th official unveiling
Kilteevan Celebrates Decade of Centenaries
The Decade of Centenaries Programme has been taking place in Ireland since 2012 and will end in 2023.
For the final phase 2021- 2023, communities were invited to make a contribution to the decade of centenaries to ensure an enduring physical legacy of Ireland’s struggle for Independence.
Inspired by correspondence from Cathaoirleach of Seanad Éireann, Senator Mark Daly and Senator Pippa Hackett and the enthusiasm of local committee member Noel Maguire, Kilteevan decided to step up to the mark and take action to mark the decade of centenaries.
After much deliberation, the decision was taken to plant a small Garden of Remembrance Gairdín Cuimhneacháin with a plaque in the grounds of the Community Centre.
On April 15th. a unique, dignified event with five guests was held in the grounds of the Community Centre to commemorate Irish Independence.
In preparation for the event Kilteevan Tidy Towns planted seven white rose trees in memory of the seven signatories of the Irish Proclamation; Thomas J Clarke, Seán Mac Diarmada, Thomas MacDonagh, P. H. Pearse, Éamonn Ceannt, James Connolly and Joseph Plunkett. A circle of pollinator friendly white flowers was planted around the rose trees to represent all who participated in the struggle for independence.
The colour white was chosen to represent peace, harmony and admiration. White reflects light and brings brightness, hope and inspiration for the future.
The rose trees were purposefully planted under a pink cherry blossom tree. “This magnificent tree”, Eileen Fahey suggested is taking on new meaning today as we now want it to represent what were once, the forgotten women of Irelands struggle for independence”.
Eileen Fahey stated that “thanks to historians and researchers we now know the vital role women played in the struggle for Irish freedom and we want this tree to represent those women.” Ray Clabby, Kilteevan Tidy Towns, was thanked for his guidance, expertise and attention to detail in designing the garden. The group hopes to place a replica of the Irish Proclamation engraved on granite in the garden in the near future.
In order to leave a more lasting legacy, local stonemason Mark Feely was commissioned to craft a commemorative plaque. Mark set the plaque in place after sunset on Easter Saturday so that the sun would rise on it in Kilteevan on Easter Sunday Morning 2021.
At the official unveiling of the plaque Pat Devaney sang the song “Grace”. The song tells the sad story of Grace Gifford who married Joseph Plunkett on 3rd May 1916 in Kilmainham Gaol, hours before he was executed by firing squad for his role in the Easter Rising of 1916.
Noel Maguire who served for 43 years in the Irish Defence Forces at home and on numerous overseas peace keeping missions, officially unveiled the plaque.
Tom Brady danced his heart out to mark the celebration of Irelands Independence.
Tommy Murray read The Irish Proclamation. Tommy’s father Jim Murray and his uncle Tom Murray were members of The Kilteevan Company; 3rd Battalion of Volunteers.
Laura Croghan a former recipient of the Dermot Early Youth Initiative, now pursuing further education sang Amhrán Na bhFiann
.
Pupils in Kilteevan National School observed the ceremony from over the school wall.
Closing the ceremony Eileen Fahey explained that correspondence from Seanad Éireann had suggested that groups participating in the Garden of Remembrance Initiative should consider naming their garden after one of the women who had contributed to Irelands struggle for independence.
Kilteevan has decided to call their small garden Gairdín Grace in memory of Grace Gifford Plunkett.
Thank you to Casey's Londis Roscommon
Colours are definitely the SMILES of nature.
Kilteevan Tidy Towns would like to express a sincere thank you to Jim Mc Causland and Casey’s Londis for the generous gift of Spring Bulbs which we collected today.
Something to look forward to!
Swift Survey in Kilteevan Today
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
Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme Cloonlarge Loop
On February 21st 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
World Curlew Day 21st April
Nollaig Feeney our Heritage Officer has been in touch to remind us that Wednesday 21st of April is World Curlew Day on and the lovely curlew sculpture has been put back up on Walsh’s roundabout in Roscommon town to promote it.
As part of the National Curlew Conservation Programme https://www.npws.ie/farmers-and-landowners/schemes/curlew-conservation-programme there are two Curlew Action teams operating in Roscommon covering North Roscommon & Lough Ree.
Co. Roscommon ecologist James Owens is one of a team surveying the east Mayo-North Roscommon area which roughly covers between Castlerea, Ballyhaunis and Ballaghaderreen. He has been in touch about their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Curlew-Conservation-Programme-East-Mayo-North-Roscommon-101634802030252/?ti=as
Please keep an eye on their page for Curlew news in North Roscommon.
If you see or hear any curlews, please message their Facebook page or phone 089 228 0381
Helping Hedgehogs and a Survey
This photo was taken in Kilteevan
A new information leaflet was produced called ‘Helping Hedgehogs’ with tips for making your garden more hedgehog friendly. The leaflet is available to view, download and print from the project website
https://www.irishhedgehogsurvey.com/helping-hedgehogs
This year, a more involved hedgehog survey is planned with volunteers invited to conduct a survey in their local area between May and September.
Full details of dates and locations will be available on the project website
https://www.irishhedgehogsurvey.com/
Please contact the survey organiser [email protected] if you would like more information or wish to be informed of training and survey news.
Roscommon County Council is proud to support the Irish Hedgehog Survey 2021 as an action of the County Roscommon Heritage Plan 2017-2021.
Kilteevan Litter Pick- Saturday April 24th 10am- 12 noon
Due to Covid 19 restrictions, we regretfully cannot conduct our annual major litter pick this year.
Instead, we are seeking the cooperation of smaller groups i.e. householders, families etc. to devote an hour or two in their immediate vicinity to pick litter.
As the weather is fine and dry we would ask you to carry out the task on Saturday morning only between 10am- 12 noon
Bags and litter pickers may be collected from a table outside Tidy Towns Shed from 10.AM
When finished your task, you can drop off the collected litter at the car park of the Community Centre by 12 noon.
All supporters are advised that face masks be worn. Social distance and hand sanitization must be observed.
This will greatly assist your Kilteevan Tidy Towns volunteers, who help us out every week in keeping Kilteevan neat and litter free.
Kilteevan Tidy Towns would like to acknowledge the support of Roscommomn Co Council with this initiarive.
