Members of Lisnamult Residents’ Association will learn if they have won a Pride of Place award this Saturday in Letterkenny. The association is made up of dedicated local volunteers who have worked tirelessly to maintain Lisnamult and its surrounds for a number of years.
Chairperson Anthony Doolin says those involved had worked hard to impress the judges.
“An awful lot of effort was put in by tenants and residents between cleaning up the area and gardening. We also had to do something with the main entrance (of Lisnamult) and so rose beds worth around €1,500 were planted along with boxes and shrubs.
“Volunteers were also out helping some of the older people with their houses and with gardening too. We were under a lot of pressure to keep lawns and the area down near the AstroTurf looking well on the day.”
The community came together in a concerted effort and Anthony believes this swayed the Pride of Place judges.
“I think they were impressed when it came to the AstroTurf. They were delighted that the residents got together with the likes of Cathaoirleach Orla Leyden, Cllr. Kathleen Shanagher and John Horan to set it up and to keep it running. They (the judges) did a whole tour of the estate and each group did their little bit for Lisnamult.”
Visiting judges would also have been impressed with Roscommon Community College, Greenfields Childcare Centre under manager Lisa O’Neill and John Kerrigan’s history of the old RIC barracks.
For their part, the residents of Lisnamult have elevated the area to the national stage. Funds are raised through monthly draws and the annual Christmas raffle. The committee also hosts weekly bingo games with proceeds going towards the upkeep of the area.
Anthony had high praise for those involved: “It has been a great effort from local people. People got behind us and people who maybe hadn’t been involved in a few years got involved to play their part. Also fair play to Roscommon County Council who have been very good to us.
“As chairperson I would be very proud of what we’ve achieved over the years and we intend to do a little bit more next year.”
As for the Pride of Place awards this weekend, Anthony says it’s a great honour and something to look forward to.
“We’ll head off on Saturday morning to see if we win anything! There will be about fifteen of us going up to Letterkenny.
“It’s a great honour. Lisnamult is a great place, I’ve been living here all my life and there’s always something going on.
“I’d like to say a sincere thanks to all members of the committee, local volunteers and all those who support our monthly draws and Christmas raffle.”
Plans are also underway to construct new dressing rooms at the Roscommon Sports Park and with further plans in the offing involving Roscommon Gaels GAA and Roscommon Community College, Anthony half-jokingly commented that the area “could become the Croke Park of Roscommon”.
There are other jewels in the Lisnamult crown of course and the judges were said to be impressed by the ‘Lisnamult Lives and Legends’ publication which was released in 2014.
This Saturday the hard-working community of Lisnamult will find out if they have impressed the judges enough to take home a Pride of Place award. One thing’s for sure however, Anthony Doolin and the residents’ association will remain deeply proud of their place, whatever the result.
