Killann Parish Green Group: Greening a whole parish
What links the late Pope Francis to ugly walls in Bailieborough?
The answer is Killann Parish Green Club.
In his encyclical ‘Ludato Si’ Francis stressed the importance of looking after the earth. The Irish church has responded by devoting 30% of its land to nature by 2030.
Bishop Martin Hayes’ led formation of the Kilmore Care of Creation was born, with Patricia Keenan coordinating engagement with the parishes. Fr Ultan McGoohan and Killann’s parishioners have been trailblazers for the ambitious project with environmentalists Barry Kavanagh and Eilish McGowan providing the know-how.
“They are actually grasping the emergency moreso than the government or anyone else is,” observes Barry Kavanagh of the church.
Killann Parish has three churches; two St Anne’s Churches in Bailieborough and Killann, and St Patrick’s Church in Shercock, along with the schools and community centres where the group has run “multiple projects”. Native and ornamental trees and plants galore have been planted; as have two “substantial woodlands” at the graveyard on Bailieborough’s Kells Road.
The environmental frenzy has blazed beyond parish gates. Bird boxes for threatened species have been installed all over Bailieborough, and trees and climbers planted wherever they have been welcomed.
“We don’t believe in limiting it to just church lands,” says Barry, “if you have buy-in from the surrounding community, then go with it.”
They have conducted an energy survey for local businesses in town and now have a consultant advising on actions to reduce energy consumption and thus, their carbon footprint.
They are also running a clean water initiative alongside LAWPRO to conduct citizens science programmes.
“We are constantly monitoring the water in and around Bailieborough, especially the River Lear which is one of the few pristine rivers left in Ireland. We are going to work with LAWPRO to get riparian strips along the river, and fencing and solar water drinkers for cattle, to stop poaching at the edge of the river, to keep it pristine.”
And what of ugly walls?
“We put climbers on all of the ugly walls - so they will actually become habitats in their own right, and link corridors from one part of Bailieborough to the next part.
“I’d love to see this done across the country - every ugly wall in the country, at the price of €50 per wall or so you can turn them into living corridors.”
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