St. Johns Parish Heritage Group Annual Report 2011.

Monthly meetings were held on 19 January, 2 February, 13 April, 4 May, 3 June, 6 July, 3 August, 7 September, 5 October, 9 November and 7 December. On 14th January Roscommon County Council awarded St. Johns Parish Heritage Group a Civic Reception in honour of it's Heritage Week 2010 success and on 9th February the Group was presented with it's Heritage Council Award at a ceremony in Kilkenny. Ciaran Egan and Richard Collins represented the Parish (left). In February the meeting room upstairs in St. John's Community Centre was refurbished, repainted, floored and fitted out as a research room and library. Furniture was procured - including filing cabinet and map locker and shelving erected for books and local artefacts of historical or heritage interest from the area. A selection of books and magazines on genealogy, archaeology, heritage, family and local history are available and four display cabinets and a shelf have been filled with local artefacts. On 2nd March Diane Dunnigan gave a presentation in St. Johns Community Centre on US / Irish emigration. The eight AGM of St. John's Parish Heritage Group was held on 23rd March. The officers elected were: Chairman: Ciaran Egan, Vice Chairman: Paddy Kilduff, Secretary: Marian Gavagan, Asst. Secretary: Mel McGerr, Treasurer: Christopher Keane, Asst. Treasurer: Margaret Egan, PRO & Journal Editor: Liam Byrne. The President is Donald Feeley. Donald Feeley was also appointed Cemeteries Officer and Richard Collins continued as Rindoon Project Sub-Committee Chairman. On 28 August the Group participated in Irish Walled Towns Day part of Heritage Week 2011, at Rindoon. It is estimated that over 1000 visitors attended the twohour event. The day began with Shannonside Radio broadcasting from 12.30 am but the real fun began at 2 pm. The highlight was a Viking Raid into Safe Harbour, but the Cois Claddagh Coir singing in the old church - the first choir to sing there in 700 years, was also a gem (left). A big crowd of locals turned up suitable dressed in period costume (below left) and a great time was had by all. The event was widely covered in the local newspapers and over 200 photographs from the day are on display on our Facebook page http://www.face book.com/st.johns. heritage. Other events included ogham writing, medieval life artifacts and animals, falconry, a medieval medicine talk and herb-walk in Rindoon Wood, medieval stocks, sheep dog demonstrations, a celebrity tug-ofwar and a children's art competition. The event was THE topic of conversation around the parish and beyond for manys-a-day afterwards.
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Throughout the year conservation work continued at Rindoon. The work is part of a five-year strategy by The Heritage Council and The Irish Walled Towns Network (IWTN) in co-operation with St. Johns Parish Heritage Group. The IWTN awarded the Group 120,000 in 2011 with an additional 10,000 from The Heritage Council. In addition to the ongoing stabilization of the town walls, church and hospital, conservation work and a photographic survey were conducted on Rindoon windmill. The new information uncovered during the project has led to a significant update of the 1998 Rindoon Management Plan. This new document will be officially launched in St. Johns Community Centre by Heritage Minister Jimmy Deenihan TD in February 2012. During work on the hospital a 13th century medieval stone head was uncovered (right). It is being professionally conserved by The National Museum of Ireland. In the summer the National Monuments Service confirmed that the Glysk grave marker found in the hospital grounds and dating to 1539 is officially the oldest known dated grave in Ireland. The Rindoon Journal Volume 3 was published on 27th November and was launched by Fr. Ray Milton PP in St. Johns Community Centre before a packed house. The publication of this volume brings to nearly sixty the total number of essays on local history, archaeology, heritage, literature and folklore made available to the general public through our publishing efforts. Volume 3 has 194 pages and includes articles on Rosie & Lily Cadiz - St. John's Suffragettes by Frank McNally (courtesy Richard Collins), The Diaries of Benjamin Greene of Hill House, Lecarrow - Part 3 by Mai Byrne, Jimmy Furey - boat builder by Christopher Keane, Our Heritage by Sandra Grady (poem), Lecarrow Carnival by Marian Gavagan, Dr. Edward George Levinge MBE by Eamon Leonard, Local Place Names - Carnagh by Marian Gavagan, Local Poems - Culleen Hall So Many Years Ago and Portrunny's Lovely Shore by Paud Sexton, Knockcroghery's Lovely People and The People of Lecarrow by John J. Kenny, Rambling in Bygone Days by Marian Gavagan, And his place will know him no more: the return of James Finnerty by Diane Dunnigan, Diocesan History: Parish of St. John's, The Stones Lecarrow by Theresa McDonald, Souterrain at Killiaghan and Gort by Liam Byrne & William Gacquin, Pat Fallon by Ita Fallon Commins, In Praise of those who Serve Priests of St. John's Parish, Priests of Rahara Parish, Bishops & Priests of Knockcroghery Parish, Lives Happily Spent (Nuns of Parish) by Donald & Phil Feeley and 1911 Census - Parish of Rahara & St. John's by Donald Feeley & Ciaran Egan. The book also contains a multi-page photograph section. Almost half the print run was sold by Christmas.

Additional information and photographs are available on St. Johns Parish Heritage Group Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/st.johns.heritage.

Liam Byrne PRO St. Johns Parish Heritage Group. stjphg@gmail.com

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