Ambitious plans unveiled for Eglish Drumcullen's future

A BIG crowd of locals attended a meeting outlining an ambitious and well thought out Action Plan for the future of Eglish Drumcullen parishes, in Rath Community Hall on Thursday evening.
Kevin Kinsella, Chairman of Eglish Drumcullen Development Committee, welcomed everyone to the meeting, including several local councillors, Deputies Cowen and Nolan, and Minister Pippa Hackett.
He pointed out that the community plan is called “Shaping our Vision and Future” and runs to 2027. The plan is ambitious, he said, and its aim is to create new amenities and services for the local community; amenities and services which will meet local people's needs. “We want to improve and enhance our community,” commented Kevin. “We want to make our area a more inclusive and a better place to live.
“We have had invaluable help from Offaly Local Development Company (OLDC) in the drawing up of this plan. There was consultation with all of the clubs, associations, committees and groups in the parish and all enthusiastically engaged in the process.”
The parishes of Eglish and Drumcullen cover a large area which extends from the outskirts of Birr to near Kilcormac. There are 81 townlands and three villages (Rath, Killyon and Fivealley). The population is 1,224. “We are a very vibrant and active area,” Kevin pointed out, “with a high level of community participation. We want to develop that strong foundational source.”
Peter Darcy, PRO of the committee, said the area covers 29,000 acres and 30% of it is bogland. He said the goals of the Plan include: Providing recreation and sporting facilities; enhancing existing services and recreational activities; celebrating the history, heritage and culture of the area; improving the area's environmental standards; and working in the spirit of partnership and being together.
The committee wants to have cleaner, more attractive and safer areas. This will be done by providing street lighting, footpaths and cycle lanes, and introducing traffic calming measures.
Improved street lighting, footpaths and cycle lanes are needed from the village of Rath to the cemetery, the GAA field and other roads. Traffic calming measures approaching the school in Rath are needed.
In Fivealley, bench seating, bike stands, a biodiversity area and footpaths are proposed.
The committee is also seeking improved street lighting, footpaths, and a cycle lane from Derrinlough to Fivealley.
A new stainless steel and glass bus shelter is being sought in Fivealley; as is a forest walk/cycleway from Split Hills to Bord na Móna wind farm cycle route.
It's proposed as well to improve the appearance, access and safety of Rath Cemetery for visitors; and to improve and upgrade the facilities available at Rath Community Hall.
It's planned to develop and build a sports centre in the area, as well as a community playground. Establishing a Men's Shed is planned.
Rath Comhaltas Branch wants to secure a suitable venue and storage facilities for their activities; and to explore funding streams to supply musical instruments. Rath Drama Group is seeking to secure funding for stage, lighting, equipment, training and other costs associated with the production and staging of drama and plays.
It's planned to establish a history and heritage group, which, among other activities, will seek to research and map significant sites within the two parishes.
It's planned to establish a community garden space.
The committee also wants to hold an annual community celebration day or fete bringing the community together.
Cllr Eddie Fitzpatrick, Cathaoirleach of Offaly County Council, said he sits on the board of OLDC. He said Offaly County Council wants to see rural communities further developing and being successful. “That is such an important part of Ireland's general quality of life today.” He praised Grennan's of Rath for being such a fantastic and important company, providing a high level of invaluable employment.
Cllr Fitzpatrick pointed out that when communities work together it is amazing what can be achieved.
Henry Healy from Moneygall Development Association said much has been achieved in Moneygall since President Obama's visit in 2011. He said Moneygall has great community spirit and OLDC was very helpful to the community.
He advised the Eglish Drumcullen Committee to use all funding collected. “Don't just leave it there, sitting in an account.”
He said the community garden project in Moneygall was extremely successful, and had been a mental lifeline for people during Covid.
“We also established a community gym in our community hall which has more than 100 members and cleared its debt of €60,000.
“We brought a disused building in the village back into use and transformed it into a community café. Some of us learned baking in LOETB Birr and are now putting those skills to use in the café. The spirit of volunteerism is very strong. Volunteers run our gym and café.
“In general we have done so well that we are now in a position to hire a community manager and two full-time staff and give them wages. In other words, we are now creating employment.”
Rita Guinan of Fivealley Development Association told the meeting that being on a busy national secondary route is a challenge for the Fivealley group. “We have already secured €3,000 in funding from the community benefit fund from the local wind farm. We are seeking a new bus shelter, a pollination area and new hedging.” She said there are several funding streams which community groups can tap into. “There is plenty of funding available.”
Peter Darcy pointed out that when the solar farms and wind farms are eventually all up and running in south Offaly then they will be producing a total of 750 gigawatts of electricity. “This is twice the electricity output of Ferbane Power Station,” he remarked. “750 gigawatts is enough to power 180,000 houses.”
“Moneygall Community Hall hosts our Community Hub,” continued Henry Healy, “with four Desks for remote working or studying. Our new hub also boasts a privacy booth to allow users take or make calls or host 1:1 meetings in private. Our Hub is modern and is ideal for remote workers who need to be close by. Our community Hub is also run on Solar PV Panels and wireless controlled radiators along with an E Car Charging point as we continue to reduce our carbon footprint and step away from fossil fuels.”
Cllr Fitzpatrick told the meeting that Mary Hensey, Offaly Co Co's new Tourism Activator (connected with the Just Transition fund), will be holding public information evenings in Tullamore Court Hotel on March 5th and County Arms Hotel Birr on March 13th. He strongly advised the Eglish Drumcullen Development Committee to attend them.
Kevin Kinsella said Eglish Drumcullen is “in the heart of Bord na Móna country. We hear a lot in the news about Just Transition funding and yet we don't see it being rolled out in our area.” Cllr Fitzpatrick said Bord na Móna “seems to have walked away from helping local communities. The company is generating big profits but is not putting that back into local communities, the same communities who once had a very strong relationship with the company.”
Kevin said last year's closure of Derrinlough Briquette Factory was a big loss. “We want to keep our young people in our area, we want to see them working here. The loss of Derrinlough was a blow to that aspiration."
Rita Guinan said a big percentage of people in the area are still relying on peat for their heat generation. She said the high cost of renewables such as solar panels is a major stumbling block for them.
A member of the audience said he is very worried about the future of ash and whitethorn trees. “We could lose a lot of those. It would be a massive blow. Imagine our countryside in May without the whitethorn.”
Cllr John Clendennen remembered the late Bridie Kinsella who worked hard to improve the Eglish Drumcullen area and would have been delighted to see the launch of this plan.
Cllr Clendennen added that electricity production in the area might be on the increase “but our supports are dropping. Something doesn't add up.”
Cllr John Leahy said he was recently in the company of a Council engineer observing the problem of speeding on the N52 in Fivealley. “The speed of a lot of the traffic was frightening,” he remarked. “And I know that traffic is also often coming through Rath at speed.” He added that he was very impressed with Rath Community Hall. “It's a fantastic building.”
He pointed out that having a plan is essential. “If you don't have a plan then you are going nowhere.”
Deputy Carol Nolan praised the committee for “showing true leadership.” She said it's vital “we maintain the population levels and the vibrancy of rural areas in Ireland. Sadly I see depopulation happening in other rural areas throughout the country. It is very important that young people are kept in the community and they don't drift to the large urban areas and cities.”
Deputy Barry Cowen criticised the Just Transition Fund. “It hasn't evolved in as targeted a manner as we initially wanted,” he commented. “It's focussed on tourism but it should have a wider remit than that.”