Biodiversity trail officially opened at Laragh Park

The orange and white flag flew high over Laragh Community Park last week as the long awaited Biodiversity Trail officially opened.

Last Friday, November 17, the park was flooded with excited children, teachers, parents and members of the community as Minister for Rural Development, Heather Humhreys, officially unveiled the plaque.

Works on the park first began almost a decade ago. It has seen the creation of a walking track, biodiversity trail, a children’s playground, the natural surface playing area, an outdoor classroom and a fishing stand on the Laragh River.

Developed by Laragh Sports Partnership, the state-of-the-art facility also received funding under CLÁR and the Sports Capital Programme.

“We’re here today at the Laragh Community Park, which is a fantastic facility for Laragh and the surrounding area,” said Fine Gael Councillor Carmel Brady opening the speeches.

“Laragh Sports Partnership has worked tirelessly over the last few years developing this facility,” she continued, explaining that the work had been done in association with the national school, the athletics club, the GAA and the local parish.

“And I’m sure they’ll allow the Kills and the Drungs and everyone to drive over and use it.”

Chairperson of Laragh Sports Partnership, Joe Brady, was described as being a “driving force” behind the project. He too addressed the crowd.

He revealed that the project has been ongoing for the last 10 years. The parish purchased the land with a view to developing a safe, school carpark and green area.

Laragh Sports Partnership is managed by a voluntary committee, which formed 10 years ago and includes members from the national school, the athletic club, the GAA and the parish.

“Our committee’s hard-working secretary, Siobhan Brady, and treasurer, Siobhan O’Rourke, attended a biodiversity course, which in turn led to Leader funding being obtained,” outlined Mr Brady.

“At this stage we’re very happy with our achievements, we think more could be done,” he added, hinting that more work is in the pipeline for the already impressive community facility.

Jim Maguire, chairman of Cavan County Local Development, went into further detail on these plans, while also highlighting the impact Leader funding is having on rural areas like Laragh.

“The important thing to remember is that this money is all going to rural communities. The important thing to remember is that an application has gone in for the new programme and we’re hoping, Minister, we will receive positive news on that for the delivery of the next programme for the next few years in the county.”

Concluding, Mr Maguire congratulated the Laragh community on the works that have been done, and commended their ability to use different funding streams to their advantage.

St Kevin’s Primary School also played an important factor in the parks plans, which teacher Miriam Hegarty emphasised.

“Each day, the children from many of the classes get the opportunity to come out and do their ‘ten at ten’ as we call it - a little run around the track, sometime around ten o’clock. This gives the children a well earned break, assists with regulation, and ensures that they are more alert for learning afterwards. The health and fitness benefits are obvoius. Our school sports day, that is held every year, has been held here in more recent times and, believe it or not, some of our classes get out to use the outdoor classroom,” she outlined.

Thomas McKenna, chair of Laragh GAA, also welcomed the official opening, thanking everyone who made the project possible.

Minister Humphreys then took to the stand and was full of praise for all those involved.

“When we look around ourselves today, I think of all the young people and think of the real difference an amenity like this park will make on their lives,” she said.

The plaque was officially unveiled by Joe Brady and Minister Heather Humphreys as crowds of children shouted “Up Laragh” in support.

In devising the latest initiatve, Laragh Sports Partnership (LSP) observed and appreciated the role of the local community in the conservation of nature. As a result, LSP participated in numerous projects including consulting with various local groups, information gathering from similar projects in other areas, multiple field trips, brainstorming and fundraising.

Laragh Sports Partnership (LSP) invested €281,000 in developing a 580 x 2 metre walking track, incorporating 24 different biodiversity zones around the new community park in Laragh. They received €200,000 LEADER funding support towards the project cost.

The track follows the contour of the new grass playing pitch on the south and follows the contour of the Laragh River on the north. The development also includes interpretive signs for each zone and incorporates an audio guide via a QR code to give a multidimensional experience to the facility user through modern technology.