North Leitrim village makes a plea for families to come and join them
‘LEAVE THE HUSTLE AND EXPENSE OF CITY LIFE BEHIND’
EFFORTS by a North Leitrim village to get people to move there has received widespread praise.
The community has launched an online campaign aimed at encouraging more families to move to the picturesque surrounds of Kiltyclogher, birthplace of 1916 Procamation signatory, Sean MacDiarmada.
Like many towns and villages in rural Ireland, Kiltyclogher has been hard hit by emigration but it has put its best foot forward and has appealed to people who are “tired of the hustle and bustle and expense of city life” to consider moving to a “safe, tranquil North Leitrim village.”
The border village has been hit hard by emigration but the local community are determined to bring life and, most importantly, families, back into the area.
The community group behind the campaign have a dedicated facebook page, Kiltylive, which extols the virtues of moving of moving to Kiltyclogher.
The initiative has been backed by Sligo’Leitrim TD, Martin Kenny.
Deputy Kenny said: “As a proud Leitrim man, I can think of nowhere better to live and raise a family than this beautiful county, but a community having to make an appeal like this is indicative of the state of rural Ireland today.
“This community has been stripped of its younger generation because there are no jobs in the area for them.
“The possibility of employment, particularly for graduates, is made more remote by the lack of government investment in infrastructure and particularly in broadband.
“The people of Kiltyclogher are being proactive now and calling for people to come to their village to breathe some new life into the area and to save the school.
“Before the Dáil broke for the summer, I raised the issue of Kiltyclogher National School with Minister for Education Richard Bruton, but he would not commit to retaining two teachers there.
“Kiltyclogher is calling on people who are unemployed in cities to consider making the move.
“There are lovely houses there to rent at far lower rates than in Dublin or other urban centres and rent allowance will be accepted.
“I congratulate the Kiltyclogher community for its initiative and can guarantee anyone willing to resettle here will receive a warm welcome in Leitrim,” he said.
In its pitch to get people to move there the community says: “We as a community have decided to take the initiative and campaign to secure our village school not just for our generation but for future generations to come.
“With the recent closure of the rural resettlement scheme we have initiated this media campaign to show all the advantages our village has to offer, clean air, beautiful scenery, little or no crime rate and a community where you are more than just a number and children can walk to school in safety.
“We are hoping to inspire all struggling villages with small schools not to give up.
“We have a wonderful school to offer to primary-school-aged children - and a wonderful quality of life to offer their parents and families.
“Children are known by name in this community, they are involved in the community activities in Kiltyclogher.
“We have woods and forests, rivers and lakes on our doorstep.
“Birdsong is a feature of our soundscape, peace and tranquillity are here to be enjoyed.
“Families looking for a change or a new start will be so welcome in Kiltyclogher.
“We have a vibrant, active community with three festivals in the year.
“We’re looking for families to come and add to our community, if you think this would be of interest to any of the families you are in contact with, we’d be delighted to chat to them.
“We are offering young families with children of National School age to avail of a free overnight stay in our Holiday Centre, while they come to visit Kiltyclogher with a view to relocating in this area, subject to availability. One family per night until the beginning of September.”
The community says it can offer:
· Welcoming and strong community spirit,
· Local shop and post office, · Two Traditional Pubs, · Two teacher well equipped and refurbished National School in the village,
· Community Centre with seating for 300 and functions, the Holiday Centre has self contained apartments, run by the local community,
· In 2016 and 2017 Seán MacDiarmada Boxing Club in Manorhamilton hosted the Cross Border Boxing Championship involving clubs from Sligo/ Leitrim and Northern Ireland in the Community Centre in Kiltyclogher,
· There is a Catholic Church and Church of Ireland Church in the village,
· Kiltyclogher Heritage Centre,
· Library,
· Medical Dispensary, · Seán MacDiarmada homestead located close to the village,
· Eight nights of amateur drama in the All Ireland Amateur Drama Festival Circuit
· Annual Seán MacDiarmada Summer School,
· Annual Stoney Woods Festival (the festival raised €6,000 and allocated to charities in 2016, amount for 2017 not yet available),
· Annual Traditional Music and Dance weekend in August,
· Children’s Playground, open area and enclosed area,
· Local children avail of annual swimming lessons during July in Lough Melvin and Lough McNean,
· Boys and girls Glenfarne GAA Club,
· Daily bus service to Manorhamilton connecting to Sligo and Enniskillen,
· Lough Melvin and Lough McNean located within 4 miles of the village,
· Unique views of Co Donegal, Co Fermanagh and Co Leitrim,
· Good internet coverage. · Age Gap Choir run by David Brophy from RTE with the elderly and youth of the area.