Gusserane is given a fairy great makeover
AS you approach the village of Gusserane, your eye will undoubtedly be drawn to the new road signs recently erected on all approach roads leading into the village.
The colourful, bilingual signs depict a ‘Rath’ or fairy ring derived from the old Irish ‘Rath na gCosarán’ meaning ‘fairy ring of the pathway’, and are the culmination of over a year’s work by the recently established Gusserane Tidy Village Committee. This hard working group grew out of a desire from some members of the community to make the village a more pleasing and attractive place for locals and visitors alike. Once the Tidy Village Committee was formed, everyone hit the ground running. Definite areas for improvement were identified and a comprehensive plan of action was drawn up.
The initial work involved cleaning and washing. Paths and banks were cleared and the walls and buildings in the village were power-hosed and painted in bright attractive colours.
The committee surveyed households in the area and many interesting suggestions for enhancing the village were put forward. Flowers and shrubs were planted in the beds and banks. Beech hedging was planted in the village and by fences on some approach roads. The committee hope to plant more trees around the village later in the spring.
Committee member Anne Barron said: ‘Decorative containers were filled with shrubs and flowers and placed outside the church and graveyard. Hughes Consultancy Group came to the village in October and under the auspices of the Community Employment Scheme, made a selection of timber planters. Committee members and helpers planted these with winter bedding and spring bulbs and they have been brightening the village during the dark days of winter. Garden furniture was also placed in strategic positions around the village.’
Ms Barron said all this work could not have been carried out without finance, and chairman Ger Breen and his committee are very grateful to all those who contributed to the church gate collection and also gave donations.
‘ The local members of Wexford County Council were approached for advice and available grants, and all funding was gratefully received. The committee also asked the councillors about the possibility of improving the road surface through the village, the realignment of a dangerous junction and the provision of footpaths, so it was with great joy that they heard recently that a village plan had been sanctioned by Wexford County Council and work will begin shortly.’
The group would like to express their sincere thanks to anyone who has helped in any way, new members a welcome, and they look forward to another productive year in 2018