Clonmellon: ‘A community where all can thrive and feel valued’

PRIDE OF PLACE COMPETITION

Eilís Ryan

Clonmellon village "embodies the spirit of inclusivity and diversity", the adjudicators in the Pride of Place competition were informed by Angela Dunne O’Toole, as she gave a presentation on the work and achievements of the local Tidy Towns committee.

This spirit of inclusivity and diversity enhanced the community while recognising the importance of everyone’s contribution, she said.

"Through participating on community projects, we work and learn together, developing our social networks but also increasing our social capital," Ms Dunne O’Toole stated.

"Clonmellon residents, by creating a safe and welcoming environment for everyone, regardless of ethnicity or background, have developed a community where all can thrive and feel valued."

Continuing, she said that the Tidy Towns committee, under the guidance of John Wilson, "provides the necessary vehicle for everyone to hop on board and participate in the journey of development of our shared space, the place that we all call home".

She said that the committee had been invigorated in 2018 by a team of four – Thos Henry, Martin McQuaid, John Wilson and John Adamson, who undertook a survey and completed a plan and report for the area.

Out of that came an immense programme of work which included erection of a wall of appreciation for frontline workers, installation of picnic benches, flowerbeds, planting of fruit trees and erection of signage. Currently in progress, she said, was footpath restoration of both ends of the village.

Other enhancements have included the creation of a community garden and the erection of historical plaques at locations such as the Market Square, at St Peter’s and Paul’s Catholic Church and at other historical buildings in the town. Also under way at present is the restoration of the Chapman family burial ground and graveyard at Killua Castle, work that has been undertaken in collaboration with the owners of the castle.

Explaining how the work is funded, Ms Dunn O’Toole said that a range of events are held, such as Christmas concerts, village promotion events, a Christmas weekend experience and funding comes also via sales of a high quality calendar that is produced by Killua Castle for the benefit of the Tidy Towns effort. In addition, the committee collaborate with Westmeath County Council on local projects.

Crucial to the work of the Tidy Towns Committee is, as Ms Dunne O’Toole continued, the work of the Young Tidy Towns Committee – whose members, she said, are anxious to see a playground provided.

Market Square

Going on to discuss the Market Square, Ms Dunne O’Toole said that it was built in 1835 by the Chapman family, then owners of Killua Castle. The Market Square committee oversee the complex, which is a vital part of the village, housing a cafe, a Chinese takeaway and a barber shop, as well as a monthly market run by the community council, which is a huge success.

"The village, steeped in local history, is a testament to the ability to change in response to emerging needs in the community," she said.

Ms Dunne O’Toole spoke of the importance of Killucan Castle, explaining that owners Allen and Lorena Krause had fallen in love with the then-derelict building in 1999, and that since then they have restored both it and St John’s Church, which they rent for private events but also allow the community to use free of charge for events such as those taking place that day.

Clonmellon Community centre

Built by the original development association, Clonmellon Community Centre is home to the indoor bowls, the Active Retirement Group, Taekwondo, bingo and the annual Christmas market. The community garden, brainchild of John Wilson and John Anderson, was, she said, started in 2019 and has transformed an ineffective piece of land into a thriving community amenity, providing flowers for flower baskets and vegetables for the community.

"It teaches the next generation how to grow vegetables and how to maintain sustainable living," she said, adding that "while vegetables and flowers grow, friendships also blossom, through sharing skills and life and knowledge".

There is also a school garden at the school built in 2010 for Clonmellon and Killallon. The school is working towards acquiring a biodiversity green flag. Another local organisation that has been running successfully is the Men’s Shed. Formed in 2014, it has moved from its original home at the Market Square into new premises. The members are involved in a variety of local projects.

Also making a valuable contribution to community life is St Peter and Paul’s Catholic Church, and Ms Dunne O’Toole spoke of the innovations undertaken by parish priest, Fr Seán Garland, during the Covid-19 pandemic to ensure that the faithful were still able to participate in church life either through Zoom prayer groups and Bible study, or attendance at drive-in Masses.

She added that a Corpus Christi procession recently took place, the first in the area in 40 years.

Another innovation started during Covid was the community radio station, which has attracted listeners from across the world, and popular dimensions to the station were the weekly quiz run during the pandemic and the music contributed by local musicians recorded in their own home-made studios.

Evidence of GAA activities in Clonmellon dates back to 1888 and the St Paul’s Club could, she said, be referred to as the pulse of Clonmellon, offering regular sport and also the ‘Mothers and Others’ and the ‘Dads and Lads’ teams.

Recent improvements include the completion of a second full-size pitch and a flood-lit walking track. Other projects in progress include drainage of the pitch, installation of ball stop nets and the erection of an electronic scoreboard, as well as construction of a modern fitness club for members and the community.

She added that when local families are bereaved, the GAA members step in to provide traffic management while the funerals are happening. She said in addition during Covid, in collaboration with caterer David Smith from Killucan, members had provided dinners to vulnerable members of the community on Sundays, at Christmas and Easter and provided a shopping service for those without transport.

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Welcomes in many languages for Pride of Place judges

There were welcomes in many languages for the adjudicators in the Pride of Place competition during their visit to Clonmellon on Tuesday of last week.

Clonmellon Tidy Towns is one of three entries selected to represent Westmeath in this year’s competition, and during the adjudication, Croatian, Spanish, Indian, and Ukrainian natives – as well as others – used their own languages to welcome judges Katrina Murphy and Declan Nelson to the area.

The two other Westmeath entries are both from Moate – Mount Carmel Drive has been entered in the category for housing estates, while in the Community Tourism Initiative section, the entry is from Dún Na Sí Amenity and Heritage Park in Moate.

The Clonmellon Tidy Towns entry is in the category for towns of populations from 300 to 1000.

Mr Nelson explained that the competition is organised by Cooperation Ireland and sponsored by Irish Public Bodies Mutual Insurance Limited, the insurance company of all the local authorities in the south. The motivation was the belief that if communities were fostered, then society would end up in a better place.

The judges for the competition, who all act in a voluntary capacity, are all former county managers or chief executives. Mr Nelson was previously county manager in Monaghan, while Ms Murphy is a former director of finance with Leitrim County Council.

Mr Nelson said that the fact that the Tidy Towns group had been nominated by Westmeath County Council was already testament to the benefit and achievements of that group. However, he added, they are entered in what is, he said, a very competitive category. The finale of the competition takes place on November 2 at a gala night in Monaghan.

John Wilson and Angela Dunne O’Toole, who hold leadership roles in Clonmellon Tidy Towns, detailed all the work that has been undertaken in the area and gave a picture of life in Clonmellon.

Ms Dunne O’Toole revealed that the history of community development in Clonmellon actually goes back 60 years and one of the founding members of the original Community Development Association, Pat McGonagle, was present to recall those early days.

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Twelve £1 notes laid foundation for Clonmellon development

The history of local development in Clonmellon began with a £1 per head donation from the 12 founding members of the town’s original development association.

That was in 1964, and when the committee was wound up in 2008, its funds were at €130,000, revealed the only remaining member of that original committee, Pat McGonagle – who is now 90 years of age – as he addressed the adjudicators who were in Clonmellon for the Pride of Place adjudication on Tuesday of last week.

“Clonmellon has been very good to me down the years,” said Pat, stating that he has been living on the town’s main street for 74 out of his 90 years.

Recalling the foundation of the Clonmellon Development Association, he said it was set up by local people who wanted to enhance the village. When the time came for them to wind up the committee, they had to make a decision on what to do with the significant amount of €130,000 their funds had grown to, from the original £12 with which they had started.

“We gave €10,000 each to 10 organisations in the parish, and we gave the rest to Clonmellon school,” Mr McGonagle recalled.

“We thought it would be great money for the children coming on, the next generation,” he said.

Mr McGonagle said that over the years the development association had built a number of businesses which brought industries into the town, such as Euromech and Allied Waste; it financed construction of a community centre and the establishment of St Paul’s football club.

Carnival

One of the Key activities which contributed to the financial success of the development association was the foundation of a carnival, which ran for 20 years.

Angela Dunne O’Toole, thanking Pat for sharing his memories, revealed that the contribution each of those founder members had made 60 years ago started a process which saw them buy up land which enabled them to work with Westmeath County Council before handing that land over to the county council for development of the area and for the provision of grounds for the GAA.

The association had also taken over and developed the market square.

“We are standing on the shoulders of giants,” she said of the present cohort of community volunteers in Clonmellon.

Ms Dunne O’Toole said that the Tidy Towns Group have been one of those which benefited from a €10,000 contribution from the Old development association.

“And with that money, the entire village of Clonmellon was rewired for Christmas lights, which would otherwise not have been possible,” she said, going on to say that so many organisations around Clonmellon have gone on to benefit from the 60-year history of community development effort in the area.