Tidiness, care and a major emphasis on biodiversity – that’s the overall impression of the village of Kilteevan, Co Roscommon.
Six kilometres from Roscommon town, you can’t miss the village’s community centre – a former church that has a ceiling hand-painted by the Italian Bentini brothers in 1904, no less.
On a slope behind the community centre lies a colourful playground – Ash Park – and the current church, St Joseph’s, which was built in 1963. There is a Mass Rock feature and a graveyard of note in the area and two miles down the road, Kilteevan bog has been developed into a tourist resource called Cloonlarge Loop.
Caring for people, place and heritage
The importance of the bog to the area is obvious early on in the visit. It was, of course, a very sensitive issue in 2011 when Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) were introduced and turf cutting that had gone on for generations was stopped. But now a visible reminder of that era is on display in the porch. It takes the form of a replica of a 400BC bog oak wheel found in Kilteevan bog in 1979. The original now stands proudly in the National Museum.
Members of the Kilteevan community with the impressive ceiling at Kilteevan community centre. \ Lorraine Teevan
“It’s the earliest proof of transport in Ireland,” says Sean Mooney, whose father found the original and whose brother made the replica.
In the church-turned-community centre the mission statement reads: “Caring for people, place, heritage.” Michael Spellman, chair of the Kilteevan Community Development Association gives me the tour.
Unused for 20 years, the building was returned to service in the 80s.
“We’ve built it up since then and it has brought back a fair bit of community life,” he says.
The very ornate ceiling is a talking point, though it is unclear why the Bentini brothers came to Kilteevan.
The magnificent ceiling of the Kilteevan Community Centre.\ Lorraine Teevan
An American Tea Party fundraiser was held in the hall recently – not surprising given the US links the village has. Villagers are very proud of the photo on the wall of John Brennan, ex-CIA head, whose father came from Kilteevan. Both men visited the village for the Gathering in 2013. There is also one of Washington congressman, Jim McDermott, who also has links with the area.
The Kilteevan Community Development Association has achieved a lot.
“We opened the playground, Ash Park, 13 months ago, and we’re aiming to complete a walkway and put in adult gym equipment below it next, funding permitting,” Michael Spellman says.
Kilteevan Community Centre, the heart of the Co Roscommon community. \ Lorrraine Teevan
Later, Niall Croghan tells me of how the St Joseph’s GAA club, affected by population decline, is fighting back. Others list off the organisations that use the hall – from ICA to badminton, to spinning, to Pilates, to those who play cards.
“Without the support of the community we wouldn’t be able to keep the lights on here, of course, so we appreciate all everyone does,” Michael added.
New energy coming into the village has helped too, he says.
One of those new people is Yvette McNeela, a young mother who set up the Community Alert Scheme.
Yvette believes that volunteerism brings togetherness.
“It’s huge really. You pull from everyone’s strength and skills and work together. You have a vision of what you want to do and you deliver a project and there’s great satisfaction when it’s achieved,” she says.
Cloonlarge loop walk
Developing this bog trail amenity has been a major project for the very independent Tidy Towns committee. The amenity opened in 2018 and was a pilot scheme funded by the Peatlands Community Engagement Fund.
When the area was declared an SAC, villagers had to be creative, Eileen Fahey, chair of this committee says.
“The bog had been used as a commodity for many years but then we asked, ‘What can we do with this magnificent canvas without damaging the landscape?’”
Ray and Mary Clabby and their dog Bailey take in the beautiful sights of the Cloonlarge Loop in Kilteevan, Co Roscommon. \ Lorraine Teevan
The committee is focusing on education and conservation, but they had a major clean-up job on their hands initially, they say.
“The bog was seen as wasteland. We took five and a half tonnes of rubbish out as part of the Anti-Litter Initiative – mattresses, the lot... Since then we’ve proven that clean places are kept clean.”
The group works closely with Kilteevan National School to promote environmental awareness.
“It is a small school, but a shining example of what we need to be doing,” continues Eileen.
“Those children are aware of climate change, sustainability and biodiversity and know how to grow and harvest food.”
The achievements of teenage Tidy Town committee members are also discussed.
Ned Gilligan relaxes on the beautiful Cloonlarge Loop bog walk in Kilteevan. \ Lorraine Teevan
The group recently completed an environmental report that resulted in Roscommon town being plastic-straw free last Easter Sunday.
“Our overall objective is the enhancement of the village as a whole and we believe that biodiversity is where development of the future is,” the Tidy Towns group says.
Historic cemetery
A visit to the cemetery was the last item on the agenda – one visited by actor Tom Cruise in the past as an ancestor of his was related by marriage to the Mapother landlords of the area.
There are ruins of a medieval church in Kilteevan and respect for the past is obvious. A graveyard committee is in existence for 30 years and a tidy-up takes place every second Tuesday.
“We were right in the catchment area of the monasteries on the Shannon,” Caroline Ryan, member of the graveyard committee says. “The east window in the ruins is very important architecturally, for example, because of its craftsmanship, so conserving it is very important.”
Sean Mooney pictured with Doogarrymore Wheel which was discovered by his Father John Mooney and Uncle Richard Mooney in 1969 at Doogarrymore, Kilteevan. It is the earliest evidence of wheel transport in Ireland dating back to 400 BC. \ Lorraine Teevan
I leave Kilteevan after lots of tea with a CD with songs about the village and an awareness of differing emotions about bog landscapes and impressed by the school garden where the bee mural and the children’s work bodes well for the future.
Work to everyone’s strengths and skills.Network - go to any events your county council is holding. Make sure you have all your (grant application) ducks in a row – quotations etc.Design brochures for the area and place in tourism offices. Sell local greeting cards to raise funds. Read more
It takes a village: ahead of the posse in Craanford, Co Wexford
Willingness, hard work and family tradition at Bannow/Rathangan Show
Tidiness, care and a major emphasis on biodiversity – that’s the overall impression of the village of Kilteevan, Co Roscommon.
Six kilometres from Roscommon town, you can’t miss the village’s community centre – a former church that has a ceiling hand-painted by the Italian Bentini brothers in 1904, no less.
On a slope behind the community centre lies a colourful playground – Ash Park – and the current church, St Joseph’s, which was built in 1963. There is a Mass Rock feature and a graveyard of note in the area and two miles down the road, Kilteevan bog has been developed into a tourist resource called Cloonlarge Loop.
Caring for people, place and heritage
The importance of the bog to the area is obvious early on in the visit. It was, of course, a very sensitive issue in 2011 when Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) were introduced and turf cutting that had gone on for generations was stopped. But now a visible reminder of that era is on display in the porch. It takes the form of a replica of a 400BC bog oak wheel found in Kilteevan bog in 1979. The original now stands proudly in the National Museum.
Members of the Kilteevan community with the impressive ceiling at Kilteevan community centre. \ Lorraine Teevan
“It’s the earliest proof of transport in Ireland,” says Sean Mooney, whose father found the original and whose brother made the replica.
In the church-turned-community centre the mission statement reads: “Caring for people, place, heritage.” Michael Spellman, chair of the Kilteevan Community Development Association gives me the tour.
Unused for 20 years, the building was returned to service in the 80s.
“We’ve built it up since then and it has brought back a fair bit of community life,” he says.
The very ornate ceiling is a talking point, though it is unclear why the Bentini brothers came to Kilteevan.
The magnificent ceiling of the Kilteevan Community Centre.\ Lorraine Teevan
An American Tea Party fundraiser was held in the hall recently – not surprising given the US links the village has. Villagers are very proud of the photo on the wall of John Brennan, ex-CIA head, whose father came from Kilteevan. Both men visited the village for the Gathering in 2013. There is also one of Washington congressman, Jim McDermott, who also has links with the area.
The Kilteevan Community Development Association has achieved a lot.
“We opened the playground, Ash Park, 13 months ago, and we’re aiming to complete a walkway and put in adult gym equipment below it next, funding permitting,” Michael Spellman says.
Kilteevan Community Centre, the heart of the Co Roscommon community. \ Lorrraine Teevan
Later, Niall Croghan tells me of how the St Joseph’s GAA club, affected by population decline, is fighting back. Others list off the organisations that use the hall – from ICA to badminton, to spinning, to Pilates, to those who play cards.
“Without the support of the community we wouldn’t be able to keep the lights on here, of course, so we appreciate all everyone does,” Michael added.
New energy coming into the village has helped too, he says.
One of those new people is Yvette McNeela, a young mother who set up the Community Alert Scheme.
Yvette believes that volunteerism brings togetherness.
“It’s huge really. You pull from everyone’s strength and skills and work together. You have a vision of what you want to do and you deliver a project and there’s great satisfaction when it’s achieved,” she says.
Cloonlarge loop walk
Developing this bog trail amenity has been a major project for the very independent Tidy Towns committee. The amenity opened in 2018 and was a pilot scheme funded by the Peatlands Community Engagement Fund.
When the area was declared an SAC, villagers had to be creative, Eileen Fahey, chair of this committee says.
“The bog had been used as a commodity for many years but then we asked, ‘What can we do with this magnificent canvas without damaging the landscape?’”
Ray and Mary Clabby and their dog Bailey take in the beautiful sights of the Cloonlarge Loop in Kilteevan, Co Roscommon. \ Lorraine Teevan
The committee is focusing on education and conservation, but they had a major clean-up job on their hands initially, they say.
“The bog was seen as wasteland. We took five and a half tonnes of rubbish out as part of the Anti-Litter Initiative – mattresses, the lot... Since then we’ve proven that clean places are kept clean.”
The group works closely with Kilteevan National School to promote environmental awareness.
“It is a small school, but a shining example of what we need to be doing,” continues Eileen.
“Those children are aware of climate change, sustainability and biodiversity and know how to grow and harvest food.”
The achievements of teenage Tidy Town committee members are also discussed.
Ned Gilligan relaxes on the beautiful Cloonlarge Loop bog walk in Kilteevan. \ Lorraine Teevan
The group recently completed an environmental report that resulted in Roscommon town being plastic-straw free last Easter Sunday.
“Our overall objective is the enhancement of the village as a whole and we believe that biodiversity is where development of the future is,” the Tidy Towns group says.
Historic cemetery
A visit to the cemetery was the last item on the agenda – one visited by actor Tom Cruise in the past as an ancestor of his was related by marriage to the Mapother landlords of the area.
There are ruins of a medieval church in Kilteevan and respect for the past is obvious. A graveyard committee is in existence for 30 years and a tidy-up takes place every second Tuesday.
“We were right in the catchment area of the monasteries on the Shannon,” Caroline Ryan, member of the graveyard committee says. “The east window in the ruins is very important architecturally, for example, because of its craftsmanship, so conserving it is very important.”
Sean Mooney pictured with Doogarrymore Wheel which was discovered by his Father John Mooney and Uncle Richard Mooney in 1969 at Doogarrymore, Kilteevan. It is the earliest evidence of wheel transport in Ireland dating back to 400 BC. \ Lorraine Teevan
I leave Kilteevan after lots of tea with a CD with songs about the village and an awareness of differing emotions about bog landscapes and impressed by the school garden where the bee mural and the children’s work bodes well for the future.
Work to everyone’s strengths and skills.Network - go to any events your county council is holding. Make sure you have all your (grant application) ducks in a row – quotations etc.Design brochures for the area and place in tourism offices. Sell local greeting cards to raise funds. Read more
It takes a village: ahead of the posse in Craanford, Co Wexford
Willingness, hard work and family tradition at Bannow/Rathangan Show
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