Plans take shape for Lusitania centenary
Chief executive Seamus Boland pointed out that the huge increases in the price of fuel as a result of carbon tax combined with the dwindling access to services in rural areas has made it extremely difficult for families living on low wages.
Rural Link’s budget submission is asking the government to take into account this huge imbalance and ensure that families in this situation are not further impoverished as a result of being in low paid employment or having no job at all.
And as rural dwellers are all too well aware, there are also the ever-present fears of post offices closing, hospital services being reduced and garda stations closed.
At the instigation of Sister Stanislaus, the Combat Poverty agency made some money available to investigate the need for an Irish rural network. And it was out of this concern that Irish Rural Link (IRL) came into being in 1991.
But any organisation, however helpful, is dependent on the vision and tenacity of local communities. Like the Courceys Rural Development Committee — praised as “Commendable and inspirational,” by Minister Brian Hayes, after he visited the Old Head Signal Tower at Kinsale recently.
The Committee’s project to restore and renovate the Old Head Signal Tower began in 2010 when the Courcey’s Rural Development Group set up a sub-committee to investigate the possibilities of developing the tower along with its surrounding grounds.
The feasibility study involved restoring the tower as a panoramic viewing point and using the internal space to explain to visitors its significance and history. Also planned is a Lusitanian museum, visitor centre, and café and craft shop. Full planning for the renovation of the tower has been granted and Leader funding sought.
“I will certainly offer my support in any way I can to help this project succeed,” Minister Hayes said.
The tower commands a strategic position along this stunning coastline and offers perfect views of the Old Head Golf Links and the Old Head Lighthouse. A fundraiser, which saw the Lighthouse opened to the public for two days, was a huge success and was further confirmation of the interest there is in the history of the Old Head area.
The tower, with its additions and modifications, dates from the 12th century and is reputed to be built on the site where the monks of St Dubhan established a fire beacon in the fifth century. Originally, each lighthouse was in private hands and had a coal fire on its roof.
It’s hard to imagine in this automated age how lonely and dangerous the lives of these lighthouse keepers must have been. But without them, many lives would have been lost on the treacherous coastlines. These structures are eloquent markers of sometimes-turbulent bygone ages and have always had a fascination for the public. But securing planning for such an ambitious project in these challenging economic times took vision and persistence on the part of Courcey’s Rural Development Group. Chairman JJ Hayes told me how it all came about.
* When was Courcey’s Rural development Group formed?
>>“It was about twenty years ago, in response to the Leader programme. I think I’m one of the only original members left. We had a huge response to our early meetings with West Cork Leader. Everybody here responded to the idea of working to improve our situation. We got the Blue Horizon restaurant started and a Tourist Information office for Ballinspittle which is still going strong. When we conducted a survey of the area, some potential projects came up. One of the ideas we all agreed on was a monument to the Lusitania.”
* It seems as if you’ve had a fair amount of experience at instigating projects by now?
>>“Yes. The people here are willing to put in the work. We initiated a water scheme. In 2007, we began work on a scheme that has built 25 houses, and this has helped local young people to find somewhere to live.
“Though we’ve had a number of setbacks, like losing the Garda station, we’ve still managed to buck the trend of rural depopulation.
“The numbers of children attending our local school have actually increased in recent years. Ballinspittle is a really vibrant village and locals put a significant effort into improving the local economic, social and cultural life. We are very pro-active. If we feel there’s an issue to be dealt with, we go for it, invite our local councillor to meetings. We initiate projects because we realise that if we didn’t, then nothing would happen.”
* I believe that you partnered up with Coillte to get trails in Ballinaspittle Woods?
>>“Yes, we had a sponsored walk to pay for the signage on the woodland trails. The walks are very popular with locals and visitors. It’s an initiative to improve the economic viability of the area — beaches, and a playground.”
* But the current project is you’re biggest yet, I think?
>>“Yes, it is. And we’ve all learned a lot more about the history of our area in the process. The project’s aim is to initiate the refurbishment of the signal tower and to develop a Lusitania Museum and Visitor Centre within the Office of Public Works site, which is around two acres. The views from the tower are spectacular, regardless of weather. We felt if we didn’t do something to preserve the tower, we’d lose it. Now we have planning, we hope to start work next year. We’re ready to move.”
