At today’s meeting of the Cavan/Belturbet Municipal District I again raised the need for a sewerage treatment works and network for Milltown Village. It is one of the only villages in County Cavan that does not have these essential infrastructure.
Cavan County Council own land for the treatment plant.
During consultations with officials in the Office of the Minister for Local Government, Darragh O’Brien TD on the County Development Plan last year I raised the need for a specific funding stream for this type of investment as Irish Water.
The recent announcement by Minister O’Brien of €50 million under the Rural Water Programme for just such a scheme allows Cavan County Council make an application for funding.
Last week I, along with Brendan Smith TD & Cllr. Seán Smith, made the case for funding to Minister O’Brien during his visit to Cavan.
It is now for the Council Executive to put the case together to support the application.
Given the great community facilities at Drumlane GAA Club, local childcare, playground, shop, pub/restaurant, church and primary school it makes sense to facilitate further future development.

  Drumlane Abbey € 84,698.50 Moneygashel Cashel € 14,491.86 St. Mogue’s Island € 15,473.40
Significant funding has been allocated to Cavan County Council under the National Community Monuments Fund for three important sites in West Cavan.
Drumlane Abbey has been allocated €84,690.50 under Stream 1 to complete urgent conservation work in particular to the perimeter wall. In recent years community engagement at this site has greatly improved and working closely with Cavan County Council progress has been made on a number of small projects all of which will greatly enhance the visitor experience at Drumlane Abbey which is a Cuilcagh Lakeslands Geopark Site, protect the archaeology and also acknowledge that the site remains the burial ground for the local community. I met with members of Drumlane Heritage Group around this time last year and again earlier this year as well as many calls and e-mails to advance this project.
Moneygashel Cashel, located near Cavan Burren Park is regarded as one of the best preserved ring forts in Ulster. Cavan County Council has, over recent years greatly improved access to the site but it still is well below the standard which we all would like for a site of this importance. The allocation of €15,473.40 will go some of the way to carrying out further improvements.
St Mogue’s Island, near Bawnboy is a very important site closely associated with the life of St Mogue and from which the famous ‘Mogue’s Clay’ is taken. The allocation of €14,491.86 will allow Cavan County Council prepare a detailed management plan to identify future measures to improve public access and conserve the archaeology of the site.
I want to acknowledge the work of Deputy Brendan Smith in engaging with the Department of Heritage over recent months to make the case for this funding based on the very comprehensive applications prepared by Anne-Marie Ward, Heritage officer of Cavan County Council and Granny O’Connor Geopark Manager both of whom have done a massive amount of work on these applications and will lead on the implementation of the works.

Cavan County Council will complete the re-surfacing of ‘Jack’s Lane’ near Drumcrave National School this week during the Mid-Term Break as part of works to improve traffic flow at the school.
Last summer I met with representatives of the school staff, management and the local community to see what could be done to manage traffic at the growing national school at busy drop-off and pick-up times.
Improved signage and additional road markings were put in place last year to delineate the road from school parking and to remind road users of the need to exercise caution near the school. Drainage works were completed on Jack’s Lane and some surface repairs last year. This will create a safe loop system for school traffic and reduced the need for parents to have to reverse at the school when dropping off or collecting children.
There may be a need to consider additional measures at Drumcrave NS to assist in managing traffic, particularly as the school continues to increase student numbers. However these works are a welcome start.
It is intended that the works will be completed by the end of this week.

On the 2nd April 2022 Charlie Bird intends to lead a climb of Croagh Patrick in aid of Pieta House Irish Motor Nerone Disease Association. Climbing Croagh Patrick may not be for everyone but maybe a section of the Cavan Way might be an option for those who want to support these two very worthy charities and also show solidarity with Charlie Bird and all those fighting MD.
I have asked the Cuilcagh Lakelands Geopark Team and County Cavan Sports Partnership to see how best to co-ordinate this and hope that arrangements can be made in the coming days.