Special evening in Cloonacool as new projects are launched

Two major events will take place in Cloonacool on the evening of May 10th next. 

A considerable enhancement project, which involved the resurfacing of the community centre and church car parking area, will finally conclude with the official opening of the new facility and this short event will be followed by the launch of a new book, a heritage publication with a particular connection to the greater Cloonacool region.

Upgrading works to the Community Centre car park in Cloonacool were completed in recent weeks. The official opening and blessing of the resurfaced car park will be presided over by Fr Vincent Sherlock and will involve a few short formalities. 

The official opening of the new car park will be followed by a book launch organised by the newly formed Cloonacool Heritage Group. This new book is a collection of the many folklore pieces contributed by local children to the National Folklore Schools' Collection in 1938. 

The stories are a treasure-trove of fairy tales, old cures and local history. Scarcely a family in the greater Cloonacool area is not included in the collection with countless local characters and local placenames from that time featuring in the book.

Western People columnist Pat McCarrick, speaking on behalf of the newly-formed Cloonacool Heritage Group, gives further insights into both projects.

“We are thrilled with the car park resurfacing project and our committee here at the Community Centre must issue special thanks to both Sligo LEADER Partnership CLG and our local church finance committee for their financial contributions in helping us to arrive at this result. The work now completed on the parking area around our community centre is the crowning glory to all the other work completed there in recent years.” 

Speaking about the publication being launched by the Cloonacool Heritage Group, Mr McCarrick continued: “The possibility of a local heritage group was first mentioned in 2018 but it is only now we are getting it off the ground. Our new book is not just a collection of our local folklore, it is an acknowledgement of the work of our parents and grandparents, undertaken when they themselves were children. This folklore collection if a gift from our forebearers and in producing it, our group and our community gives thanks.” 

The book launch will take the form of an introductory reflection by Fr Sherlock and will be followed by a set of short performances featuring specially composed music and readings from the new book which will be on sale on the night. Everyone is urged to attend this event, especially those with a connection to the greater Cloonacool area or with an interest in local folklore. 

This special evening of remembrance and celebration commences at 8.30pm sharp on Saturday, May 10.