Carrick-on-Shannon could be a model for us, says Ross woman
A NEW ROSS woman said she was very impressed with the way in which a community in Leitrim had banded together for the betterment of the town.
Carmel McCormack said that on a recent trip to Carrick-on-Shannon with the New Ross HFC band she was struck by how the town resembled New Ross less than ten years ago when local bars were full of people listening to music.
‘ This is the case every weekend in Carrick-on-Shannon and we were told by the locals that the town has become renowned as a centre for hen and stag weekends. We, during our visit there came across numerous such groups who were on tour of the local pubs and night clubs with their entourages celebrating the final flings of their single statuses.
‘ This is a town where traders have put their heads together during the recession and opened their doors to a culture that had been taken on by towns in the UK and Spain. Why do our stags and hens have to go abroad now when they have Carrick-onShannon?
‘During the festival which was on while we were visiting there was live street music from a movable stage each night, not with chart topping groups but from popular local talented bands. The stage was moved to a different street nightly, giving each trading area a portion of the profits.
‘Parking for the festival was directed to the outskirts of the town where security was provided in the car parking areas and taxis and mini cabs made their money by ferrying visitors to the town centre. Every business in Carrick-on-Shannon was getting its fair share of the pot.
‘Council workers were out through the night cleaning the streets enabling visitors to the town to enjoy their visit in the best comfort. The finale of the weekend was the spectacular firework display. The efforts of working together in Carrick-on-Shannon are showing to be a tremendous success.’