​We were so happy to welcome 31 visitors from Chartrettes to celebrate the 21st Anniversary of Roscommon Town Chartrettes Twinning during the Roscommon Lamb Festival with President De Jumelage, Chartrettes, Linda Lauro, Deputy Mayor Pascale Gros on May bank holiday weekend 2019.

It has been a pleasure to work on the Roscommon Twinning Committee as PRO and link with Roscommon County Council to access funding etc. as we prepared over the last 9 months for this special event with our Chairperson Eamonn Gleeson, Marie Mitchell Secretary, Patricia Morris, Bill Cunningham and all host families who actively participated in preparations and in making this a memorable long weekend for our visitors. 

The families visited Leinster House on Wednesday with Senator Terry Leyden. They greatly enjoyed Roscommon Town and environs during the Roscommon Lamb Festival. A new street sign Allée De Chartrettes was unveiled by French Ambassador to Ireland, H.E. Stephane Crouzat. I proposed the naming of this street at Roscommon Municipal District meeting months ago to mark our two town’s friendship. In Chartrettes there is an Avenue Roscommon. There was a welcome event in Aras an Chontae, Roscommon with traditional music organised by Bill Cunningham and a wonderful Lord of the Dance spectacle by Mary Dolan’s Roscommon Academy of Dance. This was followed by formal speeches (live streamed on Roscommon County Council website https://roscommon.public-i.tv/core/portal/home) and delicious food from Gleesons Restaurant & Rooms and excellent Roscommon beer from Black Donkey Brewing Ltd. 


We want to especially thank the principals, teachers & children of St Comans Wood School & Gaeil Scoil De hIde schools for the wonderful music & dancing performances they put on yesterday for our visitors...and Gerry Shannon for the Town Walk and Roscommon Castle.

We want to sincerely thank Council Chief Executive, Eugene Cummins, Elected members of the council & the council staff for funding and support to make this event possible especially Christina Fannon, Corporate services whom we liaised with closely. We also want to thank the sponsorship we received from the Roscommon Town Team, Roscommon Chamber of Commerce, Roscommon Lions club, AIB, BOI, PTSB, Roscommon Credit Union, and The Big Hello Fund

After 21 years, we are really one big family forged by shared memories of good times in previous visits & forging stronger ties with families & business for the future of both our nations. So many young people and adults have benefitted through language and cultural exchanges.Mary and Maurice Buckley started the twinning idea 21 years ago and the late Tom Foxe was Mayor when it commenced. 
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To all the people that have played a role in forging and continuing the Roscommon Chartrettes Twinning over the years Merci xx

Roscommon Town Centre Public Realm Enhancement Project Part 8 now on public display in Aras an Chontae, Roscommon. And the public are invited to make submissions.

This is an exciting plan for Roscommon Town with initial funding of €750,000 awarded to the project. It will see the development of a pedestrianized area to the east of the Town Centre (to the left of Market square as you look up Main Street) and an increase in the number of one hour parking spaces to free up the Free parking. The idea is to rejuvenate the County town, enhance the streetscape and to improve the experience for locals and visitors alike. This is an ambitious project that will increase footfall and economic turnover in the town, making Roscommon a destination town in Ireland's Hidden Heartlands

It was all hands on deck yesterday planting 13 trees to mark National Tree Week and in solidarity with the Great Green Wall Africian Initiative / Laudato project.
With the The Tree Council, Roscommon County Council Roscommon Tidy Towns, SMA Society of African Missions Laudato Tree project, Cllr. Ivan Connaughton, Cathaoirleach, Denis Naughten T.D., Cllr Kathleen Shanagher, Sarah Scott, RCC. 
It was great to get digging and enjoy the banter with Kathleen and Ivan, John Larkin, Noelle Jeffries and Tommy Parker and Fr. Maurice Henry, SMA priest and Joseph McConville, President of the Tree Council. Kay from the Tree Council made sure we got it right. Great tips.
The Great Green Wall is an African initiative that deserves the support of the international community. When completed it will be an environmental ‘Wonder of the World’ spanning African countries from Senegal in the west to Djibouti in the east, and benefiting tens of millions of people.
The Great Green Wall is an African-led project with an epic ambition: to grow an 8,000km natural wonder of the world across the entire width of Africa. Its goal is to provide food, jobs and a future for the millions of people who live in a region on the frontline of climate change.

Seeking Land for Community Gardens / Allotments in Roscommon to support sustainability & biodiversity.
I tabled a motion at the recent meeting of Roscommon Municipal District: calling on Roscommon County Council to facilitate the development of allotments / community gardens in Roscommon through the provision of land to support sustainability and biodiversity – Cllr. Orla Leyden
The motion was agreed at the meeting. I was happy with the positive response from Roscommon County Council
Reply:
Roscommon County Council is prepared to consider submissions from Community Groups in relation to proposals for Community Gardens in the context of availability of suitable lands and the proposed management of the garden. 
There are some excellent community garden projects already in the County like Cloontuskert Residents Association / Tidy Towns Polytunnel Garden, Ballaghaderreen Community Garden, Nualas Garden, Derrane, Ballyleague Ballyleague Mens Shed garden and others..it would be great to see Community gardens and allotments becoming the norm and a whole Grow Irish campaign started with community gardens, allotments, more farm vegetable gardens, kitchen gardens etc. 

I am delighted that Roscommon, the County Town will have the largest fast Charger for Electric Vehicles in the Country (80 kw) installed at Casey’s Circle K Roscommon in May 2019.

Well done to Jim McCausland, Manager Casey’s Circle K and Peter, Jim and the Casey Family for their foresight in bringing this EV Fast Charger to Town.

This is great for people with EV cars in the area and it is fantastic for promoting more visits to Roscommon by addressing the EV fast charging black spot. The fast charging point will put Roscommon Town back on the map for people with EV cars planning weekends away in Ireland etc. Jim’s determination in getting the EV Fast Charger unit installed before the Summer 2019 Tourism season is truly commendable. Jim, who is Chairperson of the County Roscommon Tourism forum is acutely aware of how this practical measure will improve visitor numbers to the County.
Casey’s Circle K is being proactive and putting the necessary infrastructure in place that will see Electric vehicles fully charged in half an hour. They are also playing an important role in encouraging more people to opt for Electric Vehicles by improving the supporting infrastructure, thus helping the environment.

I am disappointed that we are still waiting on Government to invest in the network of fast charging points in the Country and heartened that a local business is taking the initiative and showing their commitment to the area.
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I would also like to thank John Mockler, Roscommon Municipal District Coordinator again for his assistance in improving the visibility of the standard (slow charging) EV charging areas in Roscommon Town with green marking thus making it easier for people with electric cars to charge their vehicles without obstruction.