Historic building stabilised at Rindoon

The first phase of major stabilisation work is almost complete within Rinn Duin (Rindoon), the best preserved deserted Norman settlement in Ireland, located near Lecarrow. The project was initiated by St John's Parish Heritage Group, which this week praised the owner, PJ Grady, whom it said had been most helpful in allowing work to proceed on his land. A generous grant from the Irish Wall Town Network (part of The Heritage Council) has enabled one of the three towers of the town wall to have major work, including ivy removal, repair of arrow loops and stone together with steel re-inforcing to one side of the tower. The work has been carried out by Rainey Ltd. A grant from Roscommon County Council has allowed St John's Hospital, built before 1216, to be similarly repaired, closing the large crack in the gable end which was in imminent danger of collapse. This will also prevent damage to the historic medieval graves surrounding the hospital. A conservation architect, Kevin Blackwood and an archaeologist, David Sweetman, have been employed on both sites with also much assistance from the Conservation Officer Katriona Byrne and Heritage Officer Nollaig Feeney, both of Roscommon County Council. It is hoped to continue stabilisation work on another tower and the windmill in 2010. "This project is a shining example of what can be accomplished through the co-operation of the local community heritage group and Roscommon County Council, with much work on both sides," states Katriona Byrne, Conservation Officer, Roscommon County Council. "It is no doubt the national significance of the site and the best practice approach taken to the works and the presentation of the site that has enabled us to attract the degree of funding we have and I hope that this increases into the future." Meanwhile, a National Looped Walk of approximately 4.5 kilometers will shortly be opened around the shores of Rinn Duin as soon as flood repair work is carried out to two walkways. The walk has been made possible by Failte Ireland which has provided over €15,000 of map boards, waymarkers, metal stiles and technical assistance from their Trails Adviser. With finance from local sponsorship and help from JJ Craven, PJ Grady, Pat Griffin, Sam Wark, Alan Diffily, Shane Diffily, Michael Diffily and Patsy Kilcline and Pat Haggart from the Rural Development Team, the route of the walk was cleared, metal stiles installed, three stone stiles built and waymarkers placed along the length of the walk which will pass by all the major archaeological sites of Rinn Duin. This will include the hospital and the Roman Catholic and Protestant cemeteries, town wall, castle, windmill, bee bole and parish church. Rinn Duin Wood, one of the best preserved medieval woods in Ireland, is also included. Funded by the Heritage Council, each site will have its own Heritage Information Board explaining its history and context within Rinn Duin. It is anticipated that the walk will attract significant numbers of tourists to South Roscommon with consequential benefits to the local economy. Assisted by a grant from Roscommon County Council, an inscribed head stone in memory of those who have no memorial has been placed in Kilcommon and Old St John's Roman Catholic cemeteries. Trees have also been planted in these two cemeteries and in the restored St John's protestant cemetery. Meanwhile, an innovative townland marker project was completed during 2009. A marker stone for each townland and place names within the parish of St John's has been inscribed and erected. This would not have been possible without grant aid from CLÁR and Foras na Gaeilge and also the support of the local community whose generous contributions helped to finance the project. The representatives from each townland who formed a committee under the chairmanship of Donald Feeley are to be congratulated for a job well done. During what was a busy year, St John's Parish Heritage Group held a successful lecture by Anne Ridge on South Roscommon burial customs and also organised in the summer a guided walk in Rinn Duin which was attended by some 80 walkers.