Rathcabbin Development

   

Members of the Rathcabbin Rural Development and Tidy Towns Association pictured at the unveiling of the village mural last week. From left: Mary Vaughan, Denise Clancy and Finnula Kennedy with artist Ute Duggan.   Photo: Rose Mannion.                        

 A local initiative by Rathcabbin Rural Development and Tidy Towns Association members has led to the unveiling of their new Village Mural last week.

This mural represents the conclusion a heritage project where the team invested much research and creative time on, from January 2024.
They applied for inclusion on a Heritage Keeper’s program not knowing exactly where it would take them and hoping they would be successful in obtaining up to €1,000 and a little more if very fortunate.
During the academic program and research, they invited local historian James Heenan, Lorrha, to join them and together with the support of Heritage Keepers and Burren BEO Trust hosting the 2 hours weekly program over 5-6 weeks,  they viewed ancient local maps, school pupil diaries and journals from the 1930’s – to take note what was topical and important at the time in the lives of locals and had many discussions to arrive at their chosen spotlight in Rathcabbin – non other, than St. Ciaran’s Well itself.
It stood out to them as a Rathcabbin asset of key significance and a local hidden gem. It occurred to them that this sacred and very special place ran the risk of becoming lost of meaning in current generation and those to follow. With this, they engaged with some locals who were not on the program and agreed it was worthy of a spotlight as a local hidden gem and acknowledgement of its place in the local heritage as a place of healing.

The project they created included a basic tidy up of the well area, an insightful tour of the well with local historian James and an important educational element for the local school to reach the youth. In addition, a key element was bringing the well to pride of place currently with a village focal point to serve as a consistent reminder of its presence.
This was very important to encourage and remind locals to visit the hidden Well, on a winding rural road about 1.5km from the village centre and for those who cannot, to have a mural of the Well as an acknowledgement and place to visit in the village centre. Check out the Rathcabbin Rural Development facebook page for history and details on the Well. Feel free to visit the Well and the mural in person also. If you do, please note there is a local knee stone that exists a few hundred metres from St. Ciaran’s Well, across the road from it at a ditch by a stream, roadside near a field gate. The Well is renowned for its healing powers connected to the eyes especially and has a beautiful sound of water following nearby. The knee stone is associated locally with healing warts.

Despite the much-appreciated funding assistance, a project like this always costs more these days than initially anticipated however the team were committed and passionate at this stage having done their research and creative work. It is fair to say that this project came to life smoothly through the belief in local initiative and support of Vincent Corcoran for offering the shed space in the village and together with the expert work of Ger Slevin bringing this space to artist pallet standard. The weather did not cooperate always and yet by mid-June 2024, Ute Rutter-Duggan, local artist had created this beautiful village mural which brings to life the important of this local area amenity and place of historical significance for Rathcabbin Village.
The group are amazed at Ute’s stunning creation based on discussions with the members of the committee and are pleased to have captured a local fox of current times to feature along side St. Ciaran at this mural.
St. Ciaran was known for his love of animals, a shared love of many Rathcabbin locals. During her work on the mural, Ute was able to relay that she has had a first occurrence of meeting two badgers herself over the weeks while also in recent weeks, a fox and two cubs have been sighted in the village.

This is a true example of a project that started with little knowledge or insight from the outset and grew to become a great community initiative with superb teamwork after starting from a black canvas and began planning. There was also great learning along the way for the participants.  The stories shared locally of people still present in memories has been a heartwarming bonus to the project completion.

 

 

Children take a break from the 2014 Litter Pick in April in the new Rathcabbin Development Community Sensory Garden.

 

In July 2013, children help to plant fruit trees in the new village garden.

Fergal Quinn helps Rathcabbin Development to paint the village walls when he visited for the Retail Therapy
Programme in August 2012.

Rathcabbin Development.

Formed about Twenty years ago, Rathcabbin Development did great work throughout the village over a number of years, but like a lot of committees, numbers and interest fell off, the group split and then fell asunder eventually for some time.

In recent years a committee was formed with Patrick Burke as the Chairman and Darina Kelly Secretary. This group were responsible for starting a clean up of the village once again, planting flowers and also running the very successful St. Patrick’s Day Parade to help raise finances. A very interested man in Rathcabbin Development is Pat Kelly and his interest spans back over the twenty odd years or so when the group was formed as Pat was elected Treasurer then and is joint treasurer on this present committee…… now there’s commitment. Well done Pat.

The present group under the Chairmanship of Dessie Clancy with Secretary Darina Kelly and joint Treasurers Pat Kelly and Ray Clancy, meet on a regular basis, mostly on a Wednesday evening at 7p.m. with a group of interested volunteers, to continue their work with cleaning, weeding, cutting, planting etc. and anyone wishing to help here will be welcome to do so. You can contact any member of the committee if you feel like helping.