First Decade

7/31/2019 First Decade

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The record clearly shows that a small group of dedicated individuals have created a vibrant and active society which has, over the ten years of its existence involved

almost every person in the parish of St. Johns in South Roscommon either assupporter or participant in the voluntary community work undertaken by the Group.This is therefore not the nomination of any individual but the recognition of an entire

community.


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A meeting was held in St. John's Community Centre on 10th

July 2002 and a large attendancedecided to re-form the local history group, which had gone into abeyance for a number of years. Acommittee pro-tem was elected which consisted of: Liam Byrne (Chairman), Ann Griffin &Margaret Egan (Joint Secretary), Donald Feeley (Treasurer), Jack Kilcline (Asst. Treasurer), PaddyKilduff, Kevin Coyle, Elizabeth Donlon, Timmy Donlon, Diane R. Dunnigan, MichaelConnaughton, Pat Grady & Bertie Fallon.

The first official meeting took place on 23rd September and the name St. John's Parish HeritageGroup (Grpa Oidhreachta Phariste Naomh Eoin ) was chosen. The Group is a non-political, non-sectarian, voluntary organisation and its ethos is to promote local heritage, to organise the restorationof sites of local historical significance, to organise lectures, to collect materials with a view to

publishing local history and to collect funds towards these aims.During the first year a number of lectures were organised: "St. John'sParish & The Great Famine" by William Gacquin MA, "Mills & Millingin South Roscommon" by Edward Egan, "The Railway - Athlone toRoscommon" by Michael Conlon and "O'Kelly Country South of Roscommon Town" by John Kerrigan. On 19 October a social functionwas held in St. Johns Community Centre.

The First AGM was held on 1st July 2003 and the following officerswere elected; Chairman: Liam Byrne, Vice-Chairman: Paddy Kilduff,Secretary: Margaret Egan, Asst. Secretary: Kevin Coyle, Treasurer:Donald Feeley, Asst. Treasurer: Jack Kilcline. Fr. Sean Kelly PP wasunanimously appointed President. The meeting was followed by a talkon local heritage by Diane R. Dunnigan.

During 2003/04 the following events were held; a guided tour of Rindoon with Dr. Harman Murtagh, "Festival Day Traditions in OldRoscommon" a talk by Albert Siggins and "Customs & TraditionsSurrounding Marriage in South Roscommon" by Rosaleen Fallon. Afundraising night was held in Kelly's Lounge, Lecarrow and "Rindoon"a lecture and guided tour by Dr. Kieran O'Conor was held. Finally anillustrated talk on the collection at Derryglad Folk Museum byproprietor Charlie Finneran rounded off the season.

During 2004 the Group commissioned research into two local sitesof significance St. Johns Protestant Graveyard and the dolmen inLecarrow known as The Stones (or colloquially Nellies Rock).Both projects were undertaken by archaeologist Theresa McDonnellof The Achill School. The cost of the reports was 1,300.

In November 2004 "The Rindoon Journal - Volume 1" was launched

by William Gacquin MA in St. Johns Community Centre. This 186page illustrated book contains a diverse range of essays including; A Brief History of Glanduff

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National School by Donald Feeley, Roscommon Traditions & Heritage by Noel Beattie, BrianO'Fearghail - poet, herd & farmer by William Gacquin, Coyles of the Forge by Kevin Coyle,Placenames of Rahara by Rahara National School Pupils, Medieval Rindoon by J. A. Claffey, RinnDn Scouts by Kevin Coyle, Community by Margaret Egan, Memories of meeting two people wholed fascinating - and very different lives by Paul Healy, Jim Delaney & James Grady help theNational Museum by Albert Siggins, Some notes on St. John's Church by William Gacquin,Crusheen Bush - Tor Croisn by Marian Gavagan, St. John's and area in 1837 by Liam Byrne,Historic Townland Names (St. John's) by Diane Rose Dunnigan, Knockcroghery Ablaze andInterview with Mr. Jimmy Murray by Riona Egan, The Disappearing Lake - Lough Funshinagh byJack Kilcline, The Greenes of Hill House, Lecarrow by Audrey & Richard Devlin, The Diaries of Benjamin Greene of Hill House, Lecarrow - Part 1 by Mai Byrne, Fundraising in Lecarrow by KevinCoyle, Some Historical Notes on Kilmore House by Liam Byrne and Rindoon Windmill Tower by J.A. Claffey. The book sold over 950 copies.

The second AGM was held on 25th January 2005 and the following officers were elected: Chairman:Liam Byrne, Vice-Chairman: Paddy Kilduff, Secretary: Margaret Egan, Asst. Secretary: KevinCoyle, Joint Treasurer: Donald Feeley & Edward John Beattie. PRO: Mai Byrne. (President: Fr. SeanKelly).

A Cemetery Restoration Sub-Committee was set-up under the chairof Diane Dunnigan. This sub-committee undertook the restoration of Kilcommon and Old St. John's Catholic Graveyards and St. John'sProtestant Graveyard. Initial estimates for the cost of the work was

just over 11,000. A well attended community work -day wasorganised on 7 May 2005.

The work in our cemeteries continues to this day under the Chair of Donald Feeley. Kiltoom Protestant Graveyard has recently beenadded to the list and work on the graveyards is greatly assisted byRoscommon Leader Partnership - Rural Social Scheme, by cemeterygrants from Roscommon County Council and by an annual churchgate collection, which is generously supported by the people of theparish. Work on the graveyards includes controlling weeds, cuttinggrass and making the graves more accessible, planting native treesto enhance the area and planting flowers. The graveyards have also been surveyed and the namesrecorded and placed online.

On 17th July 2005 Mass was celebrated in the refurbishedKilcommon Graveyard for the first time in many, many years. Alarge congregation attended this significant religious event. A Fun-Run was organised on the same day to help finance the work in thegraveyards. During 2005/06 the Group organised; "Ploughing inSouth Roscommon" a talk by Tom Egan, "The Great Famine inRoscommon" by Fr. Ray Browne PP Kilbride and YesterdaysRubbish, Todays Antiques a talk by Cecil English.

The third AGM was held on 29th November 2005. The officers elected were: Chairman: Liam Byrne,Vice-Chairman: Paddy Kilduff, Secretary: Marian Gavagan, Asst. Secretary: Michael Connaughton,

Treasurer: Margaret Egan, PRO: Mai Byrne. A new President, Donald Feeley, was appointed toreplace Fr. Sean Kelly who passed away in April 2005 (RIP).

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Also in 2005 the Group began a collaboration with Roscommon Leader Partnership to employ aRural Social Scheme worker, Mr. Hugh Tumelty, to undertake historical research on its behalf inRoscommon County Library. This unique project is continuing and to date has produced fourvolumes of typed research containing a large database of indexed historical information which isavailable for local history research purposesat our room in St. Johns Community Centre.

On 10th December 2005 "The Rindoon Journal Volume 2" was launched by Seamus Duke in CulleenHall, Knockcroghery. The illustrated volume has 207 pages and the contents include: A link with thepast - "House Stations" by Marian Gavagan, The Story of a Local Family - Dunnigan Families of St.John's Parish 1659 - 2004 by Diane Rose Dunnigan, The Hill House, Lecarrow, Co. Roscommon byAudrey Poynton Devlin, The Diaries of Benjamin Greene of Hill House, Lecarrow - Part 2 by MaiByrne, The Earl & Silverstream: Prize Horses and The Poynton Family, Bondville, Lecarrow byAudrey Poynton Devlin, Meeting with a great Roscommon man - Phelim Murray by Seamus Duke,John Hubert Plunkett - An Architect of Australian Freedom by Tony Earls (Australia), The Priests of Knockcroghery, St. John's & Rahara by Donald Feeley, Shannon View School by Hazel A. Ryan,Bartley Madden's Story by Declan Coyne, Memories of Lloyd's School by Teresa Killian, TheResults of Portrun Regatta - A Great Success by Albert Siggins, Childhood memories of Peter JohnFallon by Monica Beegan, The Woods of St. John's & Lough Ree (Poems) by Ned Brennan, St.John's Community Centre - 21st. Anniversary, Peter Connaughton of Ballyduff by MichaelConnaughton and Macra na Firme by Laurence Fallon. This volume sold nearly 800 copies.

Income from sales of the Rindoon Journal Vol. 1 & 2 allowed St. Johns Parish Heritage Groupspend over 12,000 locally - including spending on the maintenance of cemeteries and as ourcontribution towards the conservation work etc. at Rindoon.

In 2006 a "Design a Christmas Card" competition was run.Local school children and those from further afield took part.A large entry was received which was judged by anindependent adjudicator. The winners in the six differentcategories were each given book vouchers and their entriesturned into a series of six colourful cards which were sold forChristmas.

In February 2006 a sub-committee was formed to organise theerection of Townland Markers. Donald Feeley was Chairman.Meetings were held throughout the parish, money was collected,sponsorship sought and much hard work done. This project was

completed during 2009at a cost of approx. 8,000 . A limestonemarker for each townland in the parish was erected andplacenames in English and Irish were inscribed on them. Thisproject would not have been possible without generous grant aidfrom CLR and Foras na Gaeilge and in particular without thesupport of the local community whose generous contributions

helped to finance the project. Representatives from every townland in the parish were involved onthe committee.

The fourth AGM was held on 3rd April 2007. The following officers were elected. Chairman: DianeR. Dunnigan, Vice Chairman: Ciaran Egan, Secretary: Marian Gavagan, Asst. Secretary: Michael

Connaughton, Treasurer: Margaret Egan, Asst. Treasurer: Liam Byrne, PRO: Richard Collins.(President: Donald Feeley).

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A very successful Guided Walk in St. John's Wood was heldas part of Heritage Week in August 2007 and in September awell attended Ecumenical Service was held at the Church of Ireland Graveyard in Rinnegan, St. John's. This was thesecond successful religious service organised by the Group asa commemoration of all the dead of the parish and to remindthe community of its links with the past. About the same timethe Group took over arrangements for the annual Pattern Massat St. Johns Holy Well on 24 th June. Refreshments are

provided afterwards in St. Johns Commu nity Centre.

The fifth AGM was held on 6th February 2008. Officerselected were: Chairman: Ciaran Egan, Vice Chairman: PaddyKilduff, Secretary: Marian Gavagan, Asst. Secretary: MichaelConnaughton, Treasurer: Liam Byrne, Asst. Treasurer:Margaret Egan, PRO: Richard Collins. (President: DonaldFeeley). Richard Collins took over as chair of the CemeteriesSub-Committee. A St. John's Wood Sub-Committee was alsoformed, but was later disbanded when the National Parks and

Wildlife Service took over the proposed work in this nationally significant woodland.

A Walk in St. John's Wood was organised for the May Bank Holiday 2008 and the first Fr. SeanKelly Memorial Lecture was held. The guest speaker was Anne Ridge and the topic was "DeathCustoms in the West of Ireland". During Heritage Week in October Marian Gavagan organised a"Schools Display" in St. John's Community Centre. The exhibition was very well supported and acollection of local school memorabilia and ephemera collected, some of which is now on displayupstairs in St. Johns Community Centre.

The sixth AGM of St. John's Parish Heritage Group was held on 23rd March 2009. The officerselected were: Chairman: Ciaran Egan, Vice Chairman: Paddy Kilduff, Secretary: Marian Gavagan,Asst. Secretary: Michael Connaughton, Treasurer: Liam Byrne, Asst. Treasurer: Margaret Egan,PRO & Rindoon Sub-Committee Chairman: Richard Collins. (President: Donald Feeley).

During 2009 the first phase of majorstabilization work began at Rindoon,a site which is acknowledged to bethe best preserved deserted Norman

settlement in Ireland. A generousgrant from The Irish Walled TownsNetwork (IWTN)(of which St. JohnsParish Heritage Group is one of onlya few non-Local Governmentmembers) enabled one of the threetowers of the town wall to have major work done, including ivy removal, arrow loops and stonerepairs, together with steel re-enforcing to one side of the tower. The work was carried out by RaineyConservation Ltd. A grant from Roscommon County Council allowed St Johns Hospital, builtbefore 1216, to be similarly repaired, closing a large crack in the gable end which was in imminentdanger of collapse. A conservation architect Kevin Blackwood and an archaeologist David

Sweetman were employed on both sites and assistance given by Roscommon County CouncilConservation Officer, Katriona Byrne and Heritage Officer, Nollaig Feeney.

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"This project is a shining example of what can be accomplished through the co-operation of the localcommunity heritage group and Roscommon County Council, with much work on both sides, states

Katriona Byrne, Conservation Officer, Roscommon County Council. It is no doubt the national significance of the site and the best practice approach taken to the works and the presentation of thesite that has enabled us to attract the degree of funding we have and I hope that this increases intothe future " (Press Release 2009).

During 2009 a National Looped Walk of approximately 4.5kilometers was installed around the shores of Rindoon, inWarren townland. The Warren Looped-Walk was madepossible by Filte Ireland, who provided map boards,waymarkers, metal stiles and technical assistance from theirTrails Adviser. With finance from local sponsorship and withhelp from many local people the route of the walk was cleared,metal stiles installed, three stone stiles built and waymarkersplaced along the length of the walk, which passes by all the

major archaeological sites at Rindoon - the hospital, theRoman Catholic and Protestant cemeteries, the town wall, castle, windmill, bee bole and parishchurch. Rindoon Wood, one of the best preserved medieval woods in Ireland, is also included.Funding from the Heritage Council allowed each site to have its own Heritage Information Boardexplaining its history and context within the Rindoon complex.

The walk has attracted significant numbers of visitors to South Roscommon with consequentialbenefits to the local economy.It was featured in The Irish Independent Weekend magazine on 21 st May 2011 (http://www.independent.ie/travel/inside-ireland/walk-of-the-week-warren-point-loop-co-roscommon-2653886.html) and is also listed online at: http://www.everytrail.com/guide/warren-point-looped-walk-of-rinn-duin. The walk would not be possible but for the continued support of the

local landowner P.J. Grady.Assisted by a grant from Roscommon County Council, an inscribedstone in memory of those who have no memorial was placed inKilcommon and Old St. Johns Roman Catholic cemeteries. Treeswere planted in these two cemeteries and in the restored St. JohnsChurch of Ireland graveyard.

During Heritage Week in August 2009 the Group put on a Displayof Historical Documents in St. Johns Community Centre and helda public walk at Rindoon. Both were well supported.

The seventh AGM of St. John's Parish Heritage Group was held on 1st March 2010. The officerselected were: Chairman: Ciaran Egan, Vice Chairman: Paddy Kilduff, Secretary: Marian Gavagan,Asst. Secretary: Michael Connaughton, Treasurer: Liam Byrne, Asst. Treasurer: Margaret Egan,PRO: Diane Dunnigan. (President: Donald Feeley). Richard Collins was appointed Cemeteriesofficer and continued as Rindoon Project sub-committee Chairman.

On 30th April the Group participated in Roscommon Lamb Festival 2010 by providing two wellattended guided tours on the Warren Loop Walk. In May The Fr. Seam Kelly Memorial Lecture washeld in St. John's Community Centre. The speaker was Dr. Kieran O'Conor and his talk was on theimportance of the Medieval Castle site at Rindoon.

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Heritage Week was celebrated on 22nd August with a FancyDress Event at Rindoon. The day was a spectacular success.Hundreds of locals (and people from as far away as Dublinand Cork) took part and the event won the inaugural BestEvent Organised by a Community Group award from TheHeritage Council.On 14th January 2011 Roscommon County Council awardedthe Group a Civic Reception in honour of it's Heritage Weeksuccess and on 9th February 2011 St. John's Parish HeritageGroup was presented with it's Heritage Council Award at aceremony in Kilkenny. Ciaran Egan and Richard Collinsrepresented the Parish.

In February 2011 the meeting room upstairs at St. John'sCommunity Centre was refurbished, repainted, floored andfitted out as a research room and library. The cost of thework was ca. 2,000. Furniture was procured - includingfiling cabinet and map locker and shelving erected for booksand artefacts of historical or heritage interest from the area.

A selection of books and magazines on genealogy, archaeology, heritage, family and local historyare available and four display cabinets and a shelf have been filled with local artefacts. On 2nd March a talk was given by Diane Dunnigan on Irish US emigration.

The eight AGM of St. John's Parish Heritage Group was held on 23rd March 2011. The officerselected were: Chairman: Ciaran Egan, Vice Chairman: Paddy Kilduff, Secretary: Marian Gavagan,Asst. Secretary: Mel McGerr, Treasurer: Christopher Keane, Asst. Treasurer: Margaret Egan, PRO &Journal Editor: Liam Byrne. (President: Donald Feeley). Donald Feeley was appointed Cemeteriesofficer and Richard Collins continued as Rindoon Project Sub-Committee Chairman.

In August the Group participated in Irish Walled Towns Day part of Heritage Week 2011, at Rindoon. It is estimated thatover 1000 visitors attended the two-hour event.The daybegan with Shannonside Radio broadcasting from 12.30 ambut the real fun began at 2 pm. The highlight was a VikingRaid into Safe Harbour, but the Cois Claddagh Coir singing inthe old church - the first choir to sing there in 700 years, was

also a gem. A big crowd of locals turned up suitable dressed inperiod costume and a great time was had by all. The eventwas widely covered in the local newspapers and over 200photographs from the day are on display on our Facebookpage http://www.facebook.com/st.johns.heritage.

Other events included ogham writing, medieval life artifactsand animals, falconry, a medieval medicine talk and herb-walk in Rindoon Wood, medieval stocks, sheep dogdemonstrations, a celebrity tug-of-war and a children's artcompetition. Another super day and the event was THE topic

of conversation around the parish and beyond for manys-a-dayafterwards.

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Throughout 2010 and 2011 conservation work continued at Rindoon. The work is part of a five-yearstrategy by The Heritage Council and The Irish Walled Towns Network (IWTN), in co-operationwith St. Johns Parish Heritage Group. Over 350,000 has been spent on the project to date. TheIWTN awarded the Group 120,000 in 2011 with an additional 10,000 coming from The HeritageCouncil. In addition to the ongoing stabilization of the town walls, church and hospital, conservationwork and a photographic survey were conducted on Rindoon windmill. The new informationuncovered during the project has led to a significant update of the 1998 Rindoon Management Plan.This new document wasofficially launched in St. Johns Community Centre, Lecar row by HeritageMinister Jimmy Deenihan TD on 26th March 2012. Over 100 people attended the event and itreceived much local publicity. It also featured on the Six-One news on RT. The launch wasorganised by St. Johns Parish Heritage Group.

During work on the hospital a 13th century medieval stone head wasuncovered. It is currently being professionally conserved by The NationalMuseum of Ireland. In the summer of 2011 the National MonumentsService confirmed that a grave marker found in the hospital groundsdating to 1539 is officially the oldest known dated grave in Ireland.

The Rindoon Journal Volume 3 was published on 27th November 2011. Itwas launched by Fr. Ray Milton PP Knockcroghery in St. JohnsCommunity Centre before a packed house. The publication of this

volume brings to nearly sixty the total number of essays on local history, archaeology, heritage,literature and folklore that has been made available to the general public through our publishingefforts.

Volume 3 has 194 pages and includes articles on Rosie &Lily Cadiz - St. John's Suffragettes by Frank McNally(courtesy of Richard Collins), The Diaries of BenjaminGreene of Hill House, Lecarrow - Part 3 by Mai Byrne,Jimmy Furey - boat builder by Christopher Keane, OurHeritage by Sandra Grady (poem), Lecarrow Carnival byMarian Gavagan, Dr. Edward George Levinge MBE byEamon Leonard (Cork), Local Place Names - Carnagh byMarian Gavagan, Local Poems - Culleen Hall So ManyYears Ago and Portrunny's Lovely Shore by Paud Sexton,Knockcroghery's Lovely People and The People of Lecarrow by John J. Kenny, Rambling in Bygone Days by

Marian Gavagan, And his place will know him no more: thereturn of James Finnerty by Diane Dunnigan, DiocesanHistory: Parish of St. John's, The Stones Lecarrow byTheresa McDonald, Souterrain at Killiaghan and Gort byLiam Byrne & William Gacquin, Pat Fallon by Ita FallonCommins, In Praise of those who Serve - Priests of St.John's Parish, Priests of Rahara Parish, Bishops & Priests of Knockcroghery Parish, Lives Happily Spent (Nuns of Parish) by Donald & Phil Feeley and 1911 Census - Parishof Rahara & St. John's by Donald Feeley & Ciaran Egan.The book also contains a multi-page photograph section.Half the print run was sold by Christmas and money from this venture will be used to develop theHeritage Centre within St. Johns Community Centre.

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The ninth AGM of St. John's Parish Heritage Group was held on 22rd March 2012. The officerselected were: Chairman: Ciaran Egan, Vice Chairman: Paddy Kilduff, Secretary: Mary MullallyKeane, Asst. Secretary: Marian Gavagan, Treasurer: Christopher Keane, Asst. Treasurer: MargaretEgan, PRO: Liam Byrne. (President: Donald Feeley). All Sub-Committee Chairpersons remain inplace.

On 29th March St. John's Parish Heritage Group was informed that it had been selected as one of thefinalists in the 8th Annual Athlone Rehab People of The Year Awards. This is a great honour for theGroup and confirms the commitment and enthusiasm of it's voluntary members and supporters. Theawards took place in the Radisson Hotel, Athlone on Friday 27th April. A presentation of AthloneCrystal was made to all eight award winners.

The Fr. Sean Kelly Memorial lecture 2012 was given by Regina Donlon on 4th April. Her talk wastitled "The Irish danced while the Germans sang - Irish & German social and cultural traditions in theAmerican Midwest 1850 - 1900". Approx. thirty people heard Regina talk about living conditionsand social interactions between Irish and German immigrants to the American Midwest during theperiod. Light refreshments were served afterwards.

After our success in the past the Group is planning another community Heritage Week event forAugust 2012. Further work is also in train to develop the remaining upstairs rooms at St. JohnsCommunity Centre to house a meeting / lecture room and a display areas to commemorate localheritage and community achievements and success. It is hoped to complete this work during this 10th Anniversary year. Rindoon and the Warren Loop Walk has been selected by Roscommon CountyCouncil to represent the county in the 2012 Pride of Place competition in June / July.

A number of new community projects have started - the NaturalistsField Club held its first meetingon 6th February and a field-names survey of the parish began on 8th February. Other initiatives areunder active consideration. A Facebook page has been set-up to raise the public profile of the Groupamong younger people and a website has also been designed.

Three archaeological investigations are proposed for the Rindoon site during 2012. A geophysicalsurvey and a survey of the castle by NUI Galway and an underwater survey by the University of Ulster, Coleraine are planned for the summer. In addition an aerial survey was conducted by the IrishArmy Air Corps in February. An Historical Guide and a leaflet for the site are in the pipeline.

St. Johns Parish Heritage Group is proud of its achievements during its first decade but is not sittingon its laurels. Its volunteer members continue to dedicate their time and energies to making St.

Johns Parish a better place for visitors and parishio ners.

Heritage Day 2011 at Rindoon.

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Meetings are held on the first Wednesday of every month. New members are always welcome.

Additional information and photographs are available on St. Johns Parish Heritage Group webpageat: www.roscommonhistory.ie/orgs/SJPHS/heritage.htm or on the Group Facebook page:

http://www.facebook.com/st.johns.heritage

Contact us on:[email protected]

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First Decade

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