Festive spirit spreading across Roscommon's towns and villages
Some of the large crowd at the turning on the Christmas Lights in Carrick-on-Shannon last weekend. Pic. Gerry Faughnan
The festive season has well and truly started in the county.
Christmas lights have gone up in towns and villages across Roscommon and lighting up ceremonies, craft fairs and markets have been taking place over the past few days and will continue to take place over the next few weeks.
Countless hours have been pumped into organising these initiatives by volunteers, all of whom have a great sense of pride of place.
From light displays, theatre performances, bustling markets, and a wide range of entertainment for all ages, there is something in County Roscommon to get young and old into the festive spirit.
At this time of the year we all like to visit some of the bigger urban centres for a flavour of Christmas. This is part and parcel of the countdown to Christmas, but we shouldn’t forget to also look closer to home and support our own towns and villages.
At a recent meeting of the Roscommon Municipal District, Cllr Orla Leyden highlighted the forthcoming Roscommon Christmas market and thanked the council for its continued support. She also acknowledged the funding of Roscommon Leader Partnership for the market.
“It is an important collaboration between the council and the Town Team, and Roscommon Volunteer Centre,” she said. “It will be fabulous.”
Collaboration between the various agencies and volunteer groups around the county is vitally important.
At a meeting of Roscommon’s Public Participation Network (PPN)last week Chief Executive of Roscommon County Council Shane Tiernan outlined how the PPN played a crucial role in connecting communities with local authorities, fostering engagement, and ensuring that the public's voice was heard in local decision-making processes.
Cross co-operation is the way forward in seeing this county grow and prosper. The various groups in every town and village have the best interests of their communities at heart. They want to see their communities thrive. This is also the goal of the various agencies like LEADER and Roscommon County Council. With the backing and support of the public, initiatives like Christmas markets and Christmas festivities can make a difference.
