ClarinaBallybrown CommunityCouncil

Section4CommunityActionPlan

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4. PROPOSEDACTIONPLAN .......................................................................................................1 . SWOTANALYSIS......................................................................................................................................2 PROPOSEDACTIONPLAN...........................................................................................................................3

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4.

Proposed Action Plan

TheproposedActionPlanprovidesadraftguidetopotentialactivitiestobecarriedoutinthe ClarinaBallybrown area and surrounding environs. It is based on information, feedback, recommendationsandsuggestionsprovidedbythe: CommunitySurvey BusinessSurvey GroupSurveycarriedoutbytheCommunityCouncil Demographicandsocioeconomicreviewofthecatchmentarea ReviewofcommunityfacilitiesintheVillageandsurroundingenvirons TheproposedactionsintheActionPlanarenotalldesignedtobecarriedoutthebyCommunity Councilthemselves,butprovideaguideastothetypeofactivitiesandinitiativesthatcouldbe supportedintheshort,mediumandlongterm. Some of the proposed actions will require supporting finance from the local community, but manyrequirelittletonofinancialcommitment. TheremainderofthisSectiondiscusseseachoftheproposedactionsinmoredetail,following aninitialSWOTanalysisofthearea.

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Strengths

Weaknesses
Thecatchmentareahasbecomedispersed,e.g. thenewVillageandsurroundingenvirons Thereissomeconfusionastotheactual catchmentareaforthecommunity Presentlythereisnofocalpointforcommunity developmentinthearea Visually,theVillagehasbeennegatively impactedbyrecent,uncompleted developments Whilecommunityspiritremainsstrong,there isevidentdismayovertheuncompleted developmentsinthearea

o o

Thereisaverystrongcommunityspirit,as shownthroughouttheconsultationprocess Thereisanacuteawarenessamongthelocal communityoftheissuesfacingthelocality,as wellasaneagernesstoaddressthem Thesite,planningandcommunityfundinghave beensecuredfortheconstructionofanew ResourceCentre Thereisanevidentneedandverystrong demandforthefacilitiestobeprovidedinthe ResourceCentre Thereisarichlocalheritageinthesurrounding environs

Opportunities
o TheproposedResourceCentreoffersthe opportunitytocreateafocalpointfor communitydevelopmentinthearea Broadeningthecatchmentareaintothe surroundingenvironswillprovideclarityasto thedefinitionofthelocalcommunityand providetheopportunitytoincreasecommunity involvement Ifmanagedproperly,theResourceCentrecan beusedtosupportnewandinnovativeactions inthelocalcommunitythathavenot,inthe past,hadtheopportunitytodevelop Therichlocalandruralheritageinthe surroundingenvironsoffertremendous opportunitiesforarangeofcommunitybased actionsandactivities

Threats
AlackoffundingtosupporttheResource Centrewillstoporsignificantlydelaythe constructionofthebuilding Iffurtherclarityisnotprovidedregardingthe catchmentarea,thecommunitymaybecome dispersedevenfurther;negativelyimpacting upontheexistingstrongcommunityspirit Iftheunfinisheddevelopmentisnotaddressed insomeway,itwillhaveasignificantly detrimentaleffectontheperceptionofthe Village,bothbyresidentsandnonresidents

ClarinaBallybrownCommunityCouncil Proposed Action Plan

ActionName ResourceCentre Description

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PotentialCost 350,000to380,000

Timeframe Shortterm

Obviously,continueworkonthedevelopmentoftheResourceCentre. Itisrecommendedthatsubmissionstoanyfundingagency(agencies)should bemadeinthenearfuture,asallocationsforfundingofthisnatureare becomingincreasinglylimited.Tosupportanapplication,particularlytoWLR, itisimportantthatthefollowingissecuredassoonaspossible: Anincreaseinlocalcontributionstowardstheconstructioncosts Finaliselegaldocumentsregardingleaseorownership Acquireavaluationoftheland.Thevaluationcanbeusedasmatching fundingfromthelocalcommunity.(Ifitisalease,avaluationneedstobe acquiredonthemarketvalueoftheleasefortheentireperiod.) SubmitacallfortendersonaNationalNewspaperoroneTenders(which isfree) Assessthetenders,accordingtosetcriteria,andappointasuccessful contractor Completetheformalapplicationformassoonaspossibleandsubmitit withtheCommunityDevelopmentPlan. Aconstructionsubcommitteeshouldbeformedforthedurationofthe constructionphase

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ActionName Playground Description

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PotentialCost Thecostofacommunityplaygroundcan varysignificantlydependingontheground worksthatneedtobecarriedoutonsite. Basedonrecentplayground developments,approximatecostsfora mediumsizedcommunityplaygroundcan varybetween100,000to130,000.The approximatebreakdownofcostscan include: Equipmentat30,000 Installationat16,000 Theremainderofthecostfor preparatorygroundworks, landscapingandsafeplaymaterial Ongoinginsurancecosts,tobeincurredby thePlaygroundCommittee,orlandowner ortenant,tendtobeintheregionof 800.

Timeframe Shortto mediumterm

Oneofthemostpopularsuggestionsamongrespondentstothesurveywasforthedevelopmentofa playgroundinClarinaVillageortheenvirons. Toaddresstheissueraisedbythelocalcommunity,aseparatePlaygroundCommitteeshouldbe formedtoexaminethepossibilityofobtainingalocalsitefortheinstallationoftheplayground.There isnoexactsizeofsiterequiredforaplayground;theycanbedesignedtomatchtherequirementsof theavailablesite.However,thesitewillneedtobe: WithinwalkingdistancefromtheVillage,school,churchorproposedResourceCentre Onasafewalkingroute Visiblefromthemainroad BackgroundworktobecarriedoutbythePlaygroundCommitteeshouldinclude: Identifyingpotentialsitesinthelocalareathatmatchtherequirementsmentionedabove ContactingLimerickCountyCounciltoinformthemofpotentialplansandenquiringabout availabilityofpossiblesites Ifasiteisidentified,visitatleast3othercommunityplaygroundsofdifferenttypes,todecideon thethemefortheproposedplayground,e.g.natural,woodorprimarycolours,etc.(Thisisavital partofthedesignprocessforthelocalcommunity.) Decideonpotentialequipmentforinclusion,fortwoagegroups,i.e.15yearsand5+years. Sampleequipmentforcommunityplaygroundincludes,e.g.,e.g.swings,slides,towerplay structures,cableway,etc. BecausePlaygroundsareaspecialisedproduct,theytend(thoughnotalways)tobeexemptfrom thenormalrequirementforopentendering,e.g.eTenders.However,atleast5tendersmustbe soughtfromrecognisedsuppliers. Aspartofthetenderingprocess,thesupplierswillberequiredtoprovidesampledesignsforthe Playground

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SampleCommunityPlayground(toforegroundofpicture)

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ActionName Clarifythe catchmentarea Description

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PotentialCost None

Timeframe Shortterm

Identifyandnotethecatchmentareaforthelocalcommunity.ThisdoesnotrequiretheCommunity Counciltoidentifyareastobeleftoutofconsultationorcommunitydevelopment,but,ratherto acknowledgetheparticipationofthewidercommunityinlocaldevelopment,i.e.beyondtheVillage anditsimmediateenvirons.

Senseofidentify Brandthearea

Issuesrelatingtothesenseofidentitywereevidentfromthesurveys,andcanalsobeseenfromthe confusionthatcanariseinofficialdocumentsregardingthelocalarea,e.g.theLimerickCounty DevelopmentPlanreferstotheVillageandnoreferenceisgiventothesurroundingenvirons (includingthesitefortheproposedResourceCentre.) Tosupportthesenseofidentify,theCommunityCouncilshouldtaketheleadroleindevelopinga localsenseofidentity,i.e.whatisBallybrown/Clarina? TheCouncilshouldundertakeactionstostrengthenlocalidentitybycontinuallyemphasising, throughactions,newsletters,website,etc.,theagreednameofthearea,e.g.,Ballybrown, Clarina,BallybrownClarina Alogoshouldbedesignedforthecatchmentarea,tobeusedonallnewsletters,websites, fundingsubmissions,etc.

Minimalwiththe supportofthelocal community.Small printingcostsifthe logoistobeusedon headednotepaper.

Shortterm

Websites

Atthemoment,asidentifiedinthesurveys,thereareanumberofwebsitesofrelevancetoClarina Ballybrown.Thedifferentapproachesamongthesewebsitestothelocalnameandareaaddstothe confusionregardingthesenseofidentify. TocoincidewiththedevelopmentoftheResourceCentreasthefocalpointforlocaldevelopment, theCommunityCouncilshouldsupportthedevelopmentofanonlinefocalpoint,i.e.asinglewebsite forthelocalarea,promotinglocalcommunitydevelopmentandlinkingallclubsandorganisations.

Minimalwiththe supportofthelocal community,apartfrom hostingcosts.

Shortterm

Newletters Centre

FacilitatetheuseofemailandSMSmessagingfordistributingnewslettersandupdates promotingitsusetoothercommunities.

Minimal None

Shortterm Shortterm

NameofResource TheResourceCentreshouldbegivenanamethatreferstothewidercatchmentarea,thereby

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ActionName Visualand environmental improvements Description

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PotentialCost Minimalwithlocal support,e.g.birdhouses tobebuiltbylocal scouts,advicefrom birdwatchIreland,etc.

Timeframe Shorttomediumterm

CommunityCounciltoactivelyassistandsupportTidyTownsandGreenFlageffortslocally, andtakeleadroleinaddressingmajorlocalissues,e.g.unfinisheddevelopments,road calmingmeasures,footpaths,etc.,withrelevantstakeholders.Forexample: InpartnershipwiththeTidyTownsgroupandothers,theCouncilcouldaddressthe problemofunfinisheddevelopmentsbyturning,withpermissionandsomeminorworks, thesesites,oraportionofthesesites,intodesignatedwildlifeareas Ifnotcurrentlytakingpart,organiseanAnTaisceNationalSpringCleaneventfor residents,students,andparishgroupsandclubs

Trafficandroads

TheCommunityCounciltocontinuetolobbytoLimerickCountyCouncilregardingitems identifiedinthelocalsurveys,including,forexample: RoadsignsonapproachroadsonN69 Improvevisibilityoftrafficlights Improvestateofminorroadssurroundingvillage,whichareunsafeforwalking PossibilityofcyclepathintheVillage Removingunsightlysignsaroundvillage,e.g.postoffice Lobbyforextensionoffootpaths,bikepaths,andlightingonlocalroads Erecttownlandsignagethroughoutarea Providelitter/recyclingfacilitiesandantilittersignsthroughouttown. Establishacommunitycompostingproject

None,althoughthecost oftownlandsignage wouldvarydependingon thetyperequired,e.g. wood,stone,etc.

Shorttomediumterm

YouthCaf

TheCommunityCouncilshouldconsultwithlocalyouthclubs,regionalForige representatives,etc.,toreviewthepossibilityofalocalgrouporrepresentativesforminga youthcafthatcouldrentapermanentofficeormeetingspacewithintheResourceCentre.

None,programmeand fundingtobesourcedby othergroup(s) None

Mediumterm

PublicHealth Nurse

ContactHSEtoreviewpossibilityofthePublicHealthNursehavingaclinicintheResource Centre,asopposedtoAdareorDooradoyleHealthCentre.

Mediumterm

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ActionName Community Garden Description

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PotentialCost ToolsandEquipment300(minimum)upto2,000 (ideal). Toolshed(300/400),smallpolytunnel(600/700) GroundPrepAround18/hrperoperative,plus SeedandSoilallow300/400forsoilimprovement, 200/300forseeds Tuitionsessionsfrom01Marchto31October,3 hoursperweek.Tutorrateat40/hr,totaltuition costof3,840(32weeks) Otherfactorsaccesstowaterand,possibly, electricity. Somewheretoshelterfromtheelements;e.g.an indoorclassroomfacilityforwetdays,costsfor insurance; Totalapproximatecost4kfortuitionand3kfor setupcosts

Timeframe ShorttoMediumTerm

Reviewthepotentialforacommunitygardenonsiteswithin walkingdistanceoftheVillage,school,churchorproposed ResourceCentre. Acommunitygardencanbedescribedasaseriesofmedium availabletothelocalcommunity. Thosewishingtoparticipateontheschemepayafeeatthestart ofeachyearandareallottedaraisedbedinwhichtogrow vegetables,fruit,etc. Tuitionisnormallyprovidedatthestartoftheschemetothe participants. Theschemehasbeenverypopularwhereintroducedtoother communitiesandsupportforcostscanbesoughtfromfunding agencies.

sizedraisedbeds(withoptionalsmallpolytunnels)thataremade machineryhire

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SampleCommunityGarden

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ActionName Description

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PotentialCost Lowtononeformajority ofactivities Lowtomediumforthe developmentofmarked trails

Timeframe Shorttolongterm

Supportcommunityactivities, Supportnewandinnovativecommunityactivities,forexample: withpossiblelinksto ResourceCentre FreshersDayeventforthoseinterestedinjoininggroups/formingnew groupsassuggestedbysurveyrespondents HoldanannualMeetYourNeighboursocialevent(assuggestedbytheTidy TownsAdjudicator),orholdanpicnicaspartoftheAnTaisceNational PicnicDay BallybrownParishReunioneventforformerresidentsofthearea,their descendents,etc. Presentlectures,educationalcourses,etc.usingthenewcentre Localhistorytrainingcourses Fieldstudiestalks,ex.MonsellsofTervoe,MasseysofElmPark, BlessedNewmanandClarina,O'Brien'sofPubblebrian,etc.(could invitedescendentsoflocalfamiliestovisittheareaaspartofan event).See: http://talltalesfromthetrees.blogspot.com/2011/05/eyremassey 17191804andunionpeerage.html (http://www.colinsalter.co.uk/) Communitysocialandculturaleventsasfundraisersforthenewcentre Promoteandsupportspecialinterestweekendsbasedinthenewcentre, e.g.walking,drama,traditionalmusic,heritage,etc. Developmentofmarkedwalks,e.g.heritagetrail,bikepath,SlnaSlinte (www.irishheart.ie) FairtrademarkcertificationfortheVillage

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ActionName LocalHeritage Description

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PotentialCost Lowtomediumcostsparticularly forpotentialheritageguide, althoughbenefitoffundraising fromresultingeventsshould supportthemajorityofcosts

Timeframe Shorttomediumterm

Itisevidentthatthereisawealthofheritageintheimmediatearea(e.g. architecture,graveyards,ruins,etc.)thoughnotallresidents,especiallythosenewto thearea,orvisitorswouldbeawareofthis. TheCommunityCouncilshouldworkwiththeTidyTownsgroup,parish,schooland localhistorians,etc.toresearchanddocumentthebuiltandnaturalheritageofthe areaandmakethisinformationavailableonlineandothermeansforthewider public.(Also,informationregardingaccessibilitytoheritagesites,etc.) TheCouncilshouldworkwithstakeholderstosafeguardheritagesitesand, whereappropriate,erectinterpretativesignage.Sitescouldpossiblyformthe basisforaheritagewalkingtrail Workwithlocalbodiestoensureaccesstositesofarchaeologicalandhistorical importance Producealocalguidetoheritagesites BallybrownClarinaheritagedaywithguidedwalks,presentations,pressreleases (maybeinconjunctionwithlaunchofenhancedwebsite),vintagedisplays,etc. Conductbuiltandnaturalheritageauditinconjunctionwithlocalnationalschool andothers,identifyingnaturalhabitats,scenicviews,andotherfeaturesnot previouslyrecorded.Treeauditofformerestateparklands,e.g.Cooperhill, Tervoe,ElmPark,etc. Erectheritagemarkersidentifyingsitesofinterest,e.g.formerschoolbuildings, gatelodges,locationsofnowdemolishedstructures

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SampleHeritageSites1
ElmPark

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FormergatelodgetotheElmParkdemesneandthenowdemolished residence of the Massy family, Lords Clarina from 17571923. No longer in use as an entrance, the gate lodge remains a significant architecturalfeatureforthearea. GeneralEyreMassey,1stBaronClarinaofElmPark,(17191804)foughtatCulloden,Havana, Martinique,andNiagara.HegainedtherankofGeneralin1796,wasMPforSwords1790 1797,GovernorofLimerick17971804,andwascreated1stBaronClarinaofElmParkon28 December1800. Builtintheearly19thcentury,c.1828,ElmParkwashometosuccessive generationsoftheMasseyfamilyinthe19thcentury.HomeoftheKing familyfrom1925until1956,thehousehassincebeendemolished. St.JosephsChurch Builtin1831andaltered,tothedesignsofarchitectWilliamEdward Corbettin1898,thechurchwasoriginallyathatchedbuilding.It remainsanimportantarchitecturalandhistoricalfeatureinthearea. RoseCottage Adetachedtwostoreyhousebuiltc.1820,RoseCottage,despitebeing in disuse, is included in the NIAH as an example of vernacular architecture and a pleasing roadside feature in the centre of Clarina village. It retains many original features such as slate roof and timber sashwindows.

Photosaresourcedfromwww.lcc.eu,NIAH,www.limerick.ieandwww.thepeerage.com,

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KilkeedyChurch

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Now a ruin, Kilkeedy church dates from an earlier, possibly pre reformation, period, though the tower and spire were rebuilt in 1813. The church retains carved stone features, indicative of quality craftsmanship,aswellasanadjacentgraveyardincludingamausoleum. Thecomplexformsanimportanthistoricalfeatureofthearea. VermontHouse Vermont,alsoknownasVermount,isacountryhouselocatedin Glebe,Clarina.Builtin1792astheGlebehouseforKilkeedyChurch,itis includedintheRecordofProtectedStructuresforCo.Limerick. Philip&JamessChurch A new church was built at Kilkeedy in 1868 to replace the earlier adjacent structure. Built in the Early English fashion to the design of Irish architect James Edward Rogers. Included on the Record of Protected Structures, it is nowaprivateresidence. Limekiln Rubblebuilt limekiln, dating to c. 1820. The NIAH lists it as a notable surviving example of its type and serves as a reminder of the importance suchstructuresonceheldwithinruralcommunitiesaneyecatchingfeature withinthelandscape. CarrigogunnellCastle Just north of the village is the spectacular ruin of Carrigogunnell Castle, an important stronghold of the O'Brien's. Thought to have beenbuiltinthemid15thcentury,possiblyonthesiteofanearlier structure, Carrigogunnell Castle was destroyed in 1691 after the secondsiegeofLimerick. BarracksandSchoolhouse LocatedatthejunctionoftheN69andthePatrickswellroadaretwo 19th century structures that formerly served as the local R.I.C. barracks and Clarina Schoolhouse. Presently, both are private residences.

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MonsellMonument

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Located in Tervoe village, the Monsell Monument is a memorial to the wife of WilliamMonsellofTervoe,anddaughterofthesecondEarlofDunraven,whodied in 1855. Thecross carries the inscriptionOn the seventh dayof January, in each year, at the foot of this cross, and alms will be given to twenty poor widows in memoryofAnnaMariaMonsell.

First Lourdes Grotto in Ireland erected by Lord Monsell There is also a Lourdes Grotto in the parish that is in townlandofTervoe.BerthedeMontiguywasthesecond wifeofWilliamMonsell,whowasgiventhetitleofLord Emly in 1874. Lady Emly was from a French Catholic family. The grotto is believed to be the first Lourdes Grottointhecountry. Thisgrottois locatedonthelandsofCopperhillFarm.Itissituatedinanenclosureofa woodedareaofthefarmandastreamrunsaroundthegrotto.Therearetwostatuesat thegrottothatareplacedwithinaspeciallybuiltcavelikeformation.AstatueoftheSacredHeartofJesusis aboveastatueoftheOurLadyofLourdes. CooperhillHouse

Located to the north of Ballybrown, Cooperhill was a twostorey country house demesne built in 1741 for the Cooper family. According to the NIAH the former demesne continues to play an importantroleinthesurroundinglandscape.Nowaruin,muchof thehouse,externalstructuresandwalledgardensremain.