CLASP Project is ‘ making sure people are alive’
DRIVING past the now silent shops, pubs, churches and post offices of Sooey, Glen and Geevagh, the only sounds of life was the tinkering of tools coming from Geevagh’s Men’s Shed.
Opened in November 2011 and funded by Irish- American Chuck Feeney’s International Fund For Ireland and run by Community of Lough Arrow Social Project ( CLASP) it has been one of the shining lights for the entire area.
The Sligo Champion spoke to Jim Clancy who’s in his second year of work at the shed.
“At this time of year we’re making garden furniture, picnic tables, bird tables, flower boxes and wishing wells. It’s brilliant for working here, a great space,” he says.
The former dance hall of the fifties is now a large open workshop with a cosy stove- heated kitchen and computer room/ library upstairs.
“The Honda 50 Club have mechanical night classes, they do up vintage tractors, refurbish old trailers,” he says, showing off a handsome red specimen.
“It’s been a superb resource for the community. Even some of the old farmers passing by would come in and have a cup of tea in our little kitchen, we’ve a roaring fire,” he says.
“Especially in wintertime, they just have a cup of tea and watch whatever’s being made and they might give you a hand. I’m from Ballintogher and this would be the nearest one for a good few miles. For a carpenter to work here it’s a joy,” he says.
“The pubs are nearly a thing of the past so it’s nice to have somewhere to go for a bit of a chat,” says John Deignan. “Or pull a turnip for dinner,” adds Jim, referring to their large polytunnel of vegetables.
“We have no local shops so if you’re passing you can get the veg for the dinner here,” says John.
The importance of CLASP to the local area cannot be underestimated - it also runs a rural transport service and is a lifeline for older, isolated residents.
In the townland of Glen the pub, post office, shop and chapel are now closed. The only thing left is CLASP.
“Without that they have nothing. They have buses and deliver dinners and are making sure people are alive,” says John.
It’s filling part of a large gaping hole in social amenities for the area. In Geevagh village, the Ashwoods Housing Estate last week saw seven four bedroom semis sold together at auction for ¤ 380,000, a third of their original ‘ boom’ prices of ¤ 160,000 each.
“We were supposed to have a creche and a shop here on this waste ground,” says John, pointing at a large weedy area. “There’s a great opening there for any kind of a convenience store. The Council owns it now, God only knows what their plans are. Look at the barbed wire - they wouldn’t even put up a decent wooden fence,” he adds.