In May and June 2023 construction of the Hen house began.The weather was warm for the entire month of June and this made the job more challenging.

 A  lot of hard work went into clearing the site, setting up the netting, purchasing the house, putting safety and waste procedures in place.

Tying all the cables was hard and little fingerers were very helpful at this tedious job.  The children spent a lot of time thinking  about and deciding on names for the hens. After a very democratic voting process in school -  the final selection was Hazel, Daisy. Egg Nogg and Bingo.  The names were lovingly  hand painted on timber..

 The magnificent hand painted timber sign(pictured below)  was made to hang over the hen house.  There was great excitement and a big welcome  for the when the hens when they arrived to their new home in Kilteevan.. 

Frames  for two raised beds were also installed. These are made from recycled wood. The class grass was donated to us from left over ends..

We can't wait to see what happens next in this amazing  space, Below some imges from the construction by Kilteevan National School/Junior Tidy Towns and Adult Tidy Towns.

 The orchard gifted to us by Casey's Circle K on February 1st  2022 was nursed and cared for by Tidy Towns for one full year.

In February 2023 we finally planted the Orchard. on the site of the new Community Garden/ Outdoor Classroom. There was a lot of hard work planting and  staking the trees . Then we planted bulbs all around the trees. We are all looking forward to this project developing . Below are some photos of  dedicated volunteers making a very valuable cotribution to Kilteevan and planet earth

Huge Congratulations to teachers, pupils, parents, Board of Management and friends of Kilteevan National School/Junior Tidy Towns for this wonderful, hugely relevant initiative. - Kilteevan Community Garden.

Adult Tidy Towns looks forward to continuing our support for this project.which supports the Sustainable Developmenmt Goals.

This project is about biodiversity, climate change, resilience, sustainability, well-being, mental health, nutrition, community and much, much more. How lucky the pupils are to be learning vitally important for skills for life. What a great little place Kilteevan is.

Today we celebrate our flora. The first Spotted Orchid of the year was noted on the Cloonlarge Loop yesterday. Many more will hopefully follow. Yes, we have NATIVE wild orchids here.

This beautiful flower has an amazing design. The colour can range from white and pale pink to purple. Notice the distinctive darker pink spots and stripes on their three-lobed lips. The flowers are densely packed in short, cone-shaped clusters. Perfumed flowers like this are particularly attractive to day-flying moths. Again we see everything in nature is connected.

Kilteevan Tidy Towns(adult and junior) were delighted to be invited  to this event  on May 17th in Roscommon Arts Centre  We were  pleased to see all the good work being carried out in the county to address Biodiversity Loss and Climate Change. It was rewarding to see Kilteevan Tidy Towns work acknowledged also.

Today we celebrate Brimstone Butterfly (Gonepteryx rhamni)

This beautiful butterfly is not very common in Ireland but we have it here in Kilteevan. 

The leaf like, lemony/ lime butterfly is a joy to behold. Note the pointed wing shape. Brimstone hibernates during the winter.

The larvae feed on leaves of Alder Buckthorn which is found on moist acid soils and wetlands. After years of searching we eventually found the Alder Buckthorn on the Loop. Everything in nature is connected.

It’s National Biodiversity Week.

Let’s celebrate some Cloonlarge Loop wonderful wildlife with some Citizen Science photos taken in May 2023.

We were lucky to spot the Narrow-bordered Bee Hawk Moth (Hemaris tityus) pictured below. It is a day-flying moth that mimics a large bumblebee.  A lively and fast flier. thats not too easy to photograph.  It is very hairy with two distinctive reddish bands.  And look at those long, clubbed antennae! We are reliably informed that this moth is now considered scare, so we are thrilled with this find.

 The record was submitted to the National Biodiversity Data Centre.

Thank you Roscommon People  for the great cobverage of our Study Visit 

https://roscommonpeople.ie/guided-tour-of-cloonlarge-bog-loop-attracts-visitors-from-california/?fbclid=IwAR35Vmx5P6jwFiVgCp1hmvq-hR_0yMCiet8Vveyck5LuAa5yY64PljT9j_Q

And thank you to The Roscommon Herald  also

 On Friday, May 12th, 2023, a study visit to Cloonlarge Bog Loop took place, attracting participants from as far as California, USA, and highlighting the incredible natural and cultural significance of Cloonlarge Bog. The visit was organised by Kilteevan Tidy Towns and the Connecting Communities with Peatlands project.

The study visit offered participants guided walk of Cloonlarge Bog Loop with Eileen Fahey, Chairperson of Kilteevan Tidy Towns, and Chris Peppiat, Conservation Ranger with the National Parks and Wildlife Service. The group walked the entire bog loop, learning about the bog biodiversity, and local stories of people who lived along the bog roads, and about the dedicated and talented local volunteers who designed the signage, created sculptures, and build insect hotels and decking in various places along the trail.

"We have successfully revitalized the bog, turning it into a thriving community asset that showcases our heritage and promotes biodiversity." – Eileen Fahey.

Kilteevan Tidy Towns, comprised of 17 dedicated individuals with various connections to the local area, actively manages multiple aspects of the project. Their efforts have been supported by the National Parks and Wildlife Service and Roscommon County Council.

 The project's success lies in its community-led approach, which has not only put Kilteevan firmly on the map but also positively impacted the well-being of local residents. The revitalized Cloonlarge Bog Loop provides a safe space for the community to gather, offering tranquillity, and fostering a sense of pride. In addition, it has raised awareness about biodiversity and environmental protection while attracting an increasing number of visitors to the area.

Looking to the future, Kilteevan Tidy Towns envisions Cloonlarge Bog undergoing restoration works, securing its preservation for future generations to enjoy. The group also hopes for prominent recognition of Cloonlarge Bog Loop as a visitor attraction in the area. 

Pictured at the event are left to right  Aoife Kirk (Connecting Communities with Peatlands), Ned Gilligan, Mattie Murphy Gertie Murphy (all Kilteevan Tidy Towns Committee) Chris Peppiatt (Conservation Ranger NPWS) Nollaig Feeney (Heritage Officer Roscommon) Michael Butler, Michael Fahey, Eileen Fahey, David Gibbons (all Kilteevan Tidy Towns Committee) Laura Connolly(Divisional Ecologist, National Parks and Wildlife Service), Mary Smith (Roscommon Co. Council)