A well attended public meeting in Killygordon last week heard of current developments and future plans for the area.
Organised by the progressive Crossroads and Killygordon Enterprise (CAKE), the event was held in the local Oaktree Community Centre.
Chair of the CAKE Community Development Committee, Cathy Burns, outlined various grants, of more than €400,000, which have been obtained over the past six months and how it will benefit the community directly.
Committee member, Aine McLoughlin, said there was a great ‘community spirit’ in the area – evident in the ongoing work of the Wednesday Club for Older People and that of the various sports clubs.
“We, as a group, want to build on all that good work,” she explained.
“We have replaced fencing, removed graffiti and our tidy towns group have been busy cleaning and planting. From an outsider’s point of view, there is a fantastic community spirit in this area.”
Ms Burns said the group wants to listen to the community, see what they want and need, then secure the necessary funding.
She revealed CAKE was going to launch a new interactive website which will contain important community information and where locals can put their ideas across. There will also be a printed newsletter for those who are not online.
Chris Irwin, along with Ms Burns, Mary McGowan and Frank Kelly of Curragh Athletic, spearheaded the work that led to the recent funding allocations. He stressed that CAKE was not just getting funding for the sake of it.
“This money is going to directly benefit the community in Crossroads and Killygordon,” he said.
“We were allocated a grant of €300,000 to install solar panels and heat pumps at the CAKE Centre in order to reduce costs and make the facility more sustainable in the long-term. We will also be able to export excess power, that we generate from the solar panels, to the National Grid. That will give us an additional income which we will invest in the community. If our overheads are reduced, we can make the centre more affordable for groups and organisations who want to use it.”
The meeting heard the group was successful in obtaining €15,000 from the Loughs Agency for improvements to the ‘Creamery Burn’. An additional €5,000 was secured from the Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO) to carry out a study on the potential of the River Finn and its tributaries.
CAKE, he said, also assisted the local playgroup in obtaining a similar grant of €75,000 “that will hugely reduce their heat and electric bills and secure their future and make their service more affordable to local parents.”
The group has applied for money to restore the Monellan graves and met with Coillte about improving forest roads and paths there and in Dromore Wood.
The meeting heard CAKE has met with Donegal ETB to discuss potential funding to provide courses such as sewing and Irish classes for parents.
“We welcome any ideas that people might have in relation to providing other courses and training for adults,” he said.
CAKE, Ms McLaughlin added, also wants to hear ideas for classes and support for the youth and children of the area.
“It’s not about what we think people want, but we want to know what people in the area actually want, so please communicate with us.”
A number of attendees said there was a need for bus shelters as well as a men’s shed in the area. The group agreed to act on these, but stressed they still need volunteers to help them deliver.
“You don’t have to be on a committee or attend meetings if that’s not your thing,” said another committee member, Eugene Carlin.
“There are roles for everyone, for example, planting flowers or taking part in litter picks.”
Mr Irwin added that community engagement is ‘crucial’ to the future planning and development of the area: “We have momentum, but we need to keep it going.”
If anyone wants to communicate their ideas, or contact the group, they can do so by logging on to www.killygordon.ie or going to the CAKE Facebook page. Alternatively, you can contact the CAKE office on 07491 49557 or email cakeclg@gmail.com
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