The Home of Traditional Ceili Music and The Gateway to the Burren.
St Patrick’s Day 2013
Here is a selection of images from Kilfenora’s typically lively and humorous St Patrick’s Day parade, followed by a lengthy music session in one of our pubs including many distinguished Clare musicians.
Good news, a community action group has been formed to
develop and promote Kilfenora!
Most people in the Kilfenora community would agree that
there is a clear need for re-generation, especially since the removal of our post
office.
Yet for some time, Kilfenora and its associated townlands have
been missing out on opportunities for grant-aided development schemes from
Clare County Council and other funders. In addition, there has been no
mechanism for promoting the village’s interests, nor any effective means of
consulting the community that achieves participation.
(Note:
the Kilfenora strategic planning exercise in 2018 unfortunately was not
converted into action, in contrast with what happened in some other villages.)
Working with Clare County Council
Recently some concerned villagers met in a teleconference
with the Council (Clare CoCo). A number of departments were involved, plus two
Councillors – Joe Garrihy and Joe Killeen.
A wide-ranging set of ideas (plus photographs
and video) were submitted to the Council about ways to build on our heritage,
and to foster economic, social and cultural development – boosting
attractiveness as a place to live, to work in, or visit as a tourist.
This included a vision of Kilfenora recovering
its position as a vibrant centre of activity in the area of North Clare inside
the Wild Atlantic Way.
The outcome was a promise to
support Kilfenora, provided the village formed a representative group capable
of managing projects, and applying for and managing grant money.
Kilfenora Development action group
Accordingly an action group and consultative panel have been
formed reflecting virtually all of the interest groups in Kilfenora – farming,
retail, employment, tourism, sport, culture, music, accommodation, different
age groups and the Noughaval and Inchovea areas – including specific entities
such as the Burren Centre, Deanery, GAA, IFA, Comhaltas, Kilfenora Céilí Band,
Kilfenora Timeline, Community Hall and School.
The action group will operate under the name Kilfenora
Development, and a not-for-profit company (limited by guarantee) has been
formed that allows us to handle grant money.
As recommended by the Council, we will adopt this operating
structure, much of which is already in place following consultative efforts in recent
weeks.
A core action group to co-ordinate action and
act as a focal point to promote Kilfenora’s interests (and its members already
represent most aspects of the community)
A fixed ‘involvement’ panel – to include any
interest group that is not already represented in the steering group, plus
anyone else serving as an activity project leader; for example, the Kilfenora
Heritage Association, Fr Ned Crosby and Rev Kevin O’Brien (CoI), the School
Principal and a number of volunteers for project work
Contact mailing lists (primarily email,
Whatsapp) for anyone in the community who wishes to be consulted and contribute
ideas; for example we intend to include various Whatsapp groups representing
youth, young mothers etc.
We expect fluidity over time, as volunteers get involved and
fresh blood joins the steering group and involvement panel. A website will be
created (www.kilfenoradev.ie) to serve
as a platform for information-sharing, involvement and promotion. This will
work collaboratively with the village website (www.kilfenoraclare.com) and Kilfenora
Online facebook page, as well as other websites and facebook pages maintained
by village entities, and with the Burren Ecotourism Network.
Members (volunteers) of the initial steering group are
Michael Collins, John O’Gorman, John Morgan, Stephen Hegarty, Mary Pegg, Andy
Lambert, Frances Nagle, Paul Carkill and Edel Barry.
Building on previous work, embracing ideas
Kilfenora Development will build on the efforts of the Kilfenora
Planning Group and the consultation it conducted in 2018, but also other regeneration
ideas that have emerged since – in the village, in the Council and in the
Burren Ecotourism network.
Clare CoCo have committed to work with Kilfenora
Development on a strategic plan for the village and improvements in signage,
facilities and village appearance. Our intention is also to influence emerging Fáilte
Ireland plans for promoting and enhancing tourism in the Burren area.
The action group has started working on grants
being offered by Clare CoCo under the Community Support Scheme 2021, such as
for improving public amenities and village appearance, community wifi,
community development and physical activities.
We have also reached agreement with the Church
of Ireland that the Cathedral will be re-opened for community use, visitors,
the Timeline exhibition and activities such as concerts. We are facilitating a
grant application by the CoI for some repair work to ensure it is fit for
visitors. The Burren Centre plans to offer village tours in the tourist season,
as part of publicising Kilfenora’s historic features, especially the Cathedral,
Crosses and Holy Well.
We will communicate and consult on this work as it
progresses, especially as clear project proposals get developed, in which we
intend to involve community members directly. (Note our email address – )
In the meantime, if you have any queries, do talk to any
member of the action group.
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