Cathedal Quarter column: Important meetings of late in Letterkenny

Over the past few weeks, I have met with the Rosemount Residents Association, who are striving to preserve the unique Architectural Heritage of their area.

First, I met with committee members Marina Carlin, Brid Ronaghan, and Bridie Collins at the Himalayan Café before briefing the full committee at their monthly meeting in Blake's Bar.

Their committee received a boost at the recent meeting of Letterkenny Milford Municipal District when Cllr Jimmy Kavanagh brought forward a motion calling on Donegal County Council to designate Rosemount as an Architectural Conservation Area. While there are similarities between our area, there are also differences.

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I outlined the steps that our organisation took to get to the stage we are at. Our biggest step was getting a conservation plan done through funding by the Heritage Council’s Community Heritage Grant.

The Conservation Plan is our bible as it was an audit of the building in our locality and outlined what steps were needed in bring the buildings back into use according to heritage guidelines. While we didn’t have the resources, we did implement the plan where we could. But all this led to the Historic Towns Initiative, which resulted in the buildings on Church Lane becoming structurally sound and aesthetically pleasing. We wish their committee all the very best in their journey and we will offer our support where we can.

Light
One evening after I returned to my home at No. 3 Church Lane, I was absolutely thrilled to see all the lights on next door at No. 5. Work on the building is due to be completed within the next two months and hopefully, someone will be living there very soon. The transformation in No. 5 demonstrates that Derelict Ireland can be reversed and has to be permanent.

Work is also happening in No. 7 Church Lane and again, we hope that by the end of this year, there will be also be people living in the building. Personally speaking, I am delighted that No 5 Church Lane is now back in use and it was the neglect of the building was the spark that lit the fuse. In late 2013, the collapse of a flat roof at the rear of the building and damaged our property.

My late father, fed up with Letterkenny Town Council officials' ineptitude to deal with the issue of dereliction, approached Sinn Féin councillor Gerry McMonagle. Gerry’s advice to go to the papers and it brought things to the fore.

Community Events
Over the past 10 days, I had the pleasure of attending the Burns Night hosted by the Letterkenny District & Pipe Band in Conwal Parish Church Hall and we hosted our event of the year – St Brigid’s Cross-making in Dillons Hotel. People from all walks of life and all ages were at the two events.

The Burns Night had singing from Tammy Meehan, Finn Valley Men's Choir, Comhcheoltoiri, Mark O’Sullivan from the Himalayan House Band and dancing from The Kilted Dancers. Magnificent music from Letterkenny & District Pipe Band and their own trad group, along with comedy from Conwal and Co Drama Group, Reverend Adrian Dorrian and MC Graham Bell. To cap it all, a delicious stew with some haggis. All this for €15, an amazing evening.

We were delighted to host our first event of the year St Brigid’s cross making. Again, it was great to see young and making courses and also people from different faiths attending our event, learning about the ancient Irish traditions. The wonderful Himalayan House Band played throughout the evening. These events reinforce that there is a community in Letterkenny and there will always be more to unite us than divides.