About Us
Taughmaconnell Community Centre is run by volunteers to support sustainability and biodiversity in Roscommon's Karst Landscape. We have conducted a Biodiversity Survey and are building on our efforts to preserve the natural environment.
Our Activities
The hall is the focal point of the community and is used by the many sporting organisations within the area, our National School for their annual concert, senior citizens activities, art exhibitions, dancing classes, our local drama group and general fitness and well-being activities. It is also in a position to provide a catering facility for events within the parish and surrounding areas. Currently, every Monday at 8 pm Taughmaconnell Community Centre runs a very successful Bingo and the annual Scór na nÓg competitions have been held there.
Biodiversity & Survey Report 2023
The Uí Maine Kingdom groups ( Karst Faming Group, Celtic Eye Art Group & Taughmaconnell Community were delighted to hold a presentation on Thursday, October 19th 2023 at 9 pm in the Taughmaconnell Community Centre, South Roscommon. Ecologist Linda Gilsenan who has worked on this survey & report over the past year on the karst landscape of South Roscommon delivered the presentation of this report on the Night.
Linda’s presentation was fantastic & full of deep emotion, and research & highlighted how important this unique landscape is and that it is vital to protect it for generations to come especially now that we are dealing with a Climate Change Crisis. We were delighted to have other groups, speakers & locals attend on the night including Aisling Dolan Senator, Cllrs John Naughten, Tony Ward & Emer Kelly, Anthony Waldron from the Suck Valley Way, Eoghan Finneran Farmeye, Maureen Lee Irish Wheelchair Association, Conor Johnston Ballinasloe District & Heritage society & Louise Lennon Rural Link. We also announced at the event that we are currently working on a book since the end of the summer which will include all the work, Projects, Art, Photos, Organisations, Biodiversity Report & everyone who supported us on this project for the past 3 years which will be gifted to the community and all involved when completed.
Our Uí Maine Kingdom group are very appreciative to all who joined us on this Journey so far as it would not have been possible to get as far as this report unless we had that much-needed support. We will continue to work together as we have done highlighting the karst Landscape of South Roscommon, Biodiversity, Heritage, Folklore, Myths & Legends of the Land. The Taughmaconnell Community Centre Committee provided refreshments on the night.
Connecting through our shared landscape.
We have officially launched National Biodiversity Week 2024! The launch took place on Saturday 11th May 2024 at an amazing event in Taughmaconnell, South Roscommon, in collaboration with The Uí Máine Kingdom Group (Karst Farming Group, Celtic Eye Art Group & Taughmaconnell Hall) and the Irish Environmental Network.
Thank you to everyone who joined us on Saturday for this wonderful sunny day of nature, music, walks, talks and more! The event, Connecting Through Our Shared Landscape, brought us closer to the plants of this unique karst landscape, displayed amazing art from local artists, gave us music and dance, and shared information on a wide range of topics for biodiversity such as farming in the area and actions for biodiversity.
Our deepest thank you go to the Uí Maine Kingdom Group, especially Nicola Bowes and Liam Kildea, who gave their time and passion to host this event.
Thank you also to our amazing speakers!
Dr Brendan Dunford of #burrenbeotrust, who also gifted us a Pinus sylvestris, Ireland’s only native pine tree to plant in celebration of biodiversity and hope for the future of Ireland's native habitats.
Linda Gilsenan Ecologist and Paula Sharkey (Uí Máine Kingdom, Herbalist, Landscape Architect & Celtic Eye Art Group ( Extension ) Artist), who led an insightful and inspiring nature walk along the Suck River on the Roscommon/Galway border.
Eoghan Finneran (FARMEYE) who spoke about his work for farms and biodiversity measuring projects.
Nollaig Feeney (Roscommon Heritage News & Info Roscommon Heritage Officer) for outlining simple and free actions that can be taken for biodiversity by individuals and community groups, and for bringing brilliant resources on the day.
Special Thanks
A very special thank you to Kevin Cunnife, Musicians & dancers for their fantastic entertainment in Derrycahill, and Joe Tully and Family for the great traditional music entertainment in the Taughmaconnell Community Centre. Stephanie Moran Temple Printing Athlone and Snap Ireland for the beautiful Signage, VG for the Amazing Drone Footage of South Roscommon, Deirdre Ó Murchadha and Erica Follows-Smith Athlone Community Radio for highlighting the event over the past few weeks on RosFM 94.6. Adrianne Murphy for attending on the day, all the groups, the wider community, Aisling Dolan Senator, Cllr John Naughten, Cllr Tony Ward and more importantly the community of South Roscommon who have protected the Landscape down through the generations.
Thank you also to the Celtic Eye Art Group, Ann Hill, Rosemary Carty, Fiona Moore, Theresa Dempsey, Emel Osman Osman, Maggie Ryan Larkin, Louise Whelan, Paula Sharkey, Mary O'Flaherty along with Paddy Meleady, Sandy Hughes, St Hildas Athlone, Peter Murray, Taughmaconnell Hall Committee who worked hard to make this event happen, decorating the hall with their beautiful art, serving refreshments on the day, and much more behind the scenes! To Natasha O'Brien & Brenda Anna Kiernan for their work leading up to the event. To Alanagh Tennaty and Ciaran Brennan of the IEN for all of their help on the day, and Catherine O'Toole for collaborating to host the event.
Working with the Taughmaconnell Community and Uí Maine Kingdom Group was a joy, and exploring the landscape through art, music and the knowledge of those in the community was an inspirational experience. We look forward to joining you for more events in the future!
A special thanks to The Bread Basket Ballinasloe for the delightful food and Fahy Coaches for the transport on the day,
‘Garden entered at Bloom
A postcard garden entitled ‘Magic of the Kingdom That Lies Beneath and Above through the Power of Brigid’ by Uí Máine Kingdom, Taughmaconnell, Ballinasloe was highly commended on its focus on sustainability and biodiversity among our stunning show gardens this year. It is hoped that it would inspire attendees to the festival to incorporate more sustainable practices into their gardens and lifestyle.
The planning, structure and construction of this garden were put together in the Taughmaconnell Community Centre, by the Uí Maine Kingdom Group and aided by the Halls’ committee members and then transported to the Phoneix Park, Dublin for its re-construction at the 2024 Bord Bia Bloom site for the four-day festival.
