Community plays a vital role in our lives
A fundraising campaign has been launched for works at Loughglynn Church. Pic. Liam Reynolds
"Community”, a shared tapestry that we are all intricately woven into, plays a vital role in our lives, often drawing us in with its vibrant threads. This week, like many others, was a profound testament to the power of community for me. I saw and appreciated the importance many of us place on our own little place and the people in and from it.
This past weekend, marked the County GAA football semi-final weekend in Roscommon. On Saturday, my community, the parish of Loughglynn, Gorthaganny, and Lisacul, constituting the Éire Óg GAA club, triumphed in our Intermediate semi-final over Elphin in Strokestown. Now, we eagerly anticipate the county final clash with Castlerea at Dr. Hyde Park on Sunday, October 29th, coinciding with the Halloween Bank Holiday weekend. The entire local community will be fixated on this pivotal day.
Community, within any parish, finds its heartbeat in the GAA, but it is also so much more. The day preceding the county semi-finals, one of the most significant community events unfolded at Croke Park: the results of the National Tidy Towns Competition. In our parish, all three villages participated in the competition, collectively earning scores surpassing 300 marks or 54%. To put this into perspective, the national award winner achieved 376 marks or 68%.
Tidy Towns stands as a remarkable competition, showcasing the pride we all take in our communities. Some individuals lay the groundwork, devise plans, and pick up litter, forming the backbone of the committee. However, the entire community wholeheartedly engages in the project. The sense of pride, coupled with environmental respect and a commitment to cleanliness, becomes second nature as the community rallies together. People embrace the endeavour to enhance their surroundings, painting walls and infuse life and vitality into the place we proudly call home.
In my own parish, I have witnessed the ebb and flow of community life over the years. I recall a time when post offices thrived in Loughglynn, Lisacul, and Erritt, but today, not a single one graces the parish. Once bustling villages have seen a decline in shops and pubs. Times are changing and people are changing but despite these changes, our community remains resilient, boasting three thriving schools and community centres that pulse with life. These centres house playschools, after-school clubs, a variety of member-driven clubs, and diverse classes, all organised by dedicated volunteers. Our community spirit remains unyielding; we support ourselves and our neighbours, underscoring the importance of unity.
A poignant reflection of community strength emerges in times of sickness. Neighbours extend helping hands, embodying the essence of community support. In our community, we faced challenges in emergency medical services. Long waits for ambulances necessitated proactive measures. The community initiated a first responder defibrillator scheme, training forty individuals and installing defibrillators across the parish. This initiative persisted even after the introduction of a 24-hour ambulance response base in the village.
Our parishes revolve around churches, serving as the cornerstone of our shared identity. Regardless of one's religious inclination, the local church leaves an indelible mark on our community. In the past, priests played pivotal roles, but today, their presence in some parishes has diminished. In my childhood days we had a parish priest in Loughglynn, a curate in Lisacul and a Chaplin in the convent. Now our priest is Fr. Glen who is from the Philippines and he’s on his own.
Our community inherited a magnificent parish church from our ancestors. The laying of the foundation stone, on Sunday, May 28th, 1905, was celebrated in the Freeman's Journal of the following day, underscoring the pride of the community. The people had little at the time but they built a fine church.
Today in 2023 we are involved as a community in doing a major renovation on our parish church. It badly needs painting inside and several other little jobs are required. To achieve this like our predecessors we also must get help.
As a community we have launched a fundraising campaign, yours truly has been roped in with others to try and raise some funds. Amongst our efforts we have a monster vehicle run on Bank Holiday Monday leaving the village at 1 p.m. Fifteen minutes later there is a children’s tractor run through the village where children are invited to bring their tractor, go kart, anything that’s pedal powered and take part in their own run through the village from the school to the church in what should be a fun parade for children from everywhere. The children’s run costs nothing. We also have a go fund me page https://www.gofundme.com/f/loughglynn-church-co-roscommon-painting-fund where people can donate.
