A colourful and tight-knit community
For a small town, Kilnaleck has always punched above its weight when it comes to sourcing products and services locally and Christmas 2022 is no different.
The tight-knit community has a reputation for supporting local business and traders who, in turn, support the local clubs and organisations.
The Realtóg Centre is very much the hub of the community. Helen O’Reilly is a member of the committee there. “Social Services are very much looking forward to their annual Christmas party in mid December,” she reveals - it being the first major celebration for the group since the pandemic ended.
The Kilnaleck Social Services group meet every fornight on Wednesdays in the centre. “They are happy to be back again,” says Helen.
The Bowls Club are “very active” and meet in the Realtóg on Thursday and Saturday nights. “They compete in local leagues and are always on the lookout for new members,” says Helen.
The Men’s Shed is also up and running in the centre again, meeting on Wednesday nights. Family Carers Ireland also has offices based in the Realtóg Centre.
Dr Galligan CCE also have a busy year ahead and wish all their members and their families a very happy Christmas.
The branch finish off a busy and prolific 2022 with Seisiún na Nollag in Crover House Hotel on Thursday, December 15, commencing at 7pm. Everyone is very welcome and refreshments will be served.
The New Year will feature music sessions, Dr Galligan music weekend, session trails, Bunch of Keys book launch and music weekend, six weekend seisiún in Crover House and Súil Eile sessions plus Comhrá Gaeilge.
Súil Eile Café
The community and volunteer-run café, Súil Eile, has been open for the past year and a half, generating tens of thousand of euros for investment back into the local community.
The venue was celebrated as Cavan’s ‘Best Newcomer’ at the recent Irish Restaurant Awards 2022.
Volunteers came together to open the social enterprise as a way to remedy the loss of a regular meeting place for their Cúpla Focal Irish speaking group during Covid and it has developed into so much more.
Tá an obair deanta ag muintir Súil Eile i gCill na Leac leis an teanga agus cultúr a chur chun cinn. Síneann said fíorchaoin fáilte do chách teacht isteach chuig na seisiún cheoil agus an comhrá Ghaeilge.
Tidy Towns
2022 was another successful year for the local Tidy Towns group also. It scored 296, up six marks on the previous year - improving in all categories.
Many groups and features were praised in the report including the Junior Tidy Towns and schools, Kilnaleck Foróige, Crosserlough GAA club, Men’s Shed, the mural of Frank Brooks with his milk churns, Irish phrases on buildings, window boxes and shrubs, well-maintained archways and gated laneways and the memorial garden.
“Participation in the Tidy Towns has brought a pride of place in Kilnaleck,” the judges concluded.