Communityworkingwonders
MONAGEER GROTTO GROUP HAVE BEEN MAKING FANTASTIC PROGRESS ON THEIR NEW SENSORY PATHWAY
IT was outgoing US president Barack Obama who made the phrase ‘yes we can’ famous, and the community of Monageer can also certainly say ‘yes we can’. An ambitious plan to create a sensory pathway, which was talked about by members of the Monageer Grotto Group just over a year ago, is coming along very nicely with a lot of work already done.
And now people have the chance to come and view the work being carried out as the annual grotto mass will be held this Friday August 12 at 8pm. After the mass light refreshments will be provided. Everyone is welcome to come along on the night and view the work already done throughout the grotto and find out what remains to be achieved to bring the sensory pathway to a successful completion.
Work began in earnest last October when plans were drawn up to create a sensory pathway in the Monageer parish grotto, linking the shrine and car park area to the then newly opened woodland walk. The ambitious plan was brought to the attention of People Newspapers - publishers of this newspaper - who championed the project in the 2015 ‘Get Involved’ national competition.
‘Get Involved’ is a sustainable community initiative and com- petition developed by two local newspaper associations – NNI Local and the RNPAI. Between them, these two associations represent 51 local newspapers with a combined readership of 1.65 million people across all 26 counties in the Republic.
People Newspapers got involved to promote voluntary projects in local communities. Monageer Grotto Group received a framed certificate of participation in the competition at a function held last February in Dublin.
The total area in the grotto to be developed is 75 metres long by 12 metres wide. The meandering pathway was dug out, stone spread and kerbings laid before the onset of winter halted the work.
The bad weather in the early part of this year meant that work could not recommence until April. But before any work could be done, an oak tree that fell during the February storms had to be removed as part of it had fallen across the newly laid pathway.
Over the past three months volunteers have worked tirelessly each Monday night and Saturday morning building raised flower beds - one from recycled faced cavity blocks and another from recycled tyres. The central seating area has seen the block work started and the inner section has had three seats completed in local stone - said to be the same local stone used to build the local church in Monageer.
At the start of the pathway nearest to the statue, borders have been dug, rotovated and planted. The compost used on all flower beds was produced on site from the 4-bay composting bins. The filling and top soil used was saved when they commenced digging out the pathway. Most of the plants that have been planted have been raised from cuttings or donations from local gardens - which gives some degree of personal ownership to all who have contributed in any way.
The group are thankful to Fr Bill Cosgrave, P.P., and to the Parish Council for their backing and support for the project.
The Environment and the Access departments of Wexford County Council have also been very supportive to the group down through the years and in particular in their support for the sensory pathway.
Financial assistance from the county council has meant that work on the project is well ahead of the original five-year schedule and is now expected to be finished by the summer of 2018.