Manor Summit Paves the Way for Action in Manorhamilton

Manor Summit Paves the Way for Action in Manorhamilton

Four Teams Established as part of Town Team

At the recent "Manor Summit" held in the Bee Park Centre on February 18th last, four teams were established to look at projects for 2016 under the following four headings:

- Culture and Creativity

- Community and Leisure

- Heritage and Tourism

- Town Planning and Development

Over 80 people attended the event on February 18th. Patsy McShane spoke about the Workspace Model from Draperstown which involves reinvesting profits from social enterprises in several locations back into Draperstown. A presentation on the Action Plan for Manorhamilton Regional Economic Development Zone (REDZ) "To the Waters and the Wild" was also used to stimulate discussion in the four workshops.

Each workshop came up with 3-4 priorities to be actioned during 2016. An outline of these is detailed below along with the people leading on each group:

Community and Leisure - Gerry Creamer  (Bee Park) and Declan Boyle (LSP)

1. Examine the potential of walking/running route or Sli na Slainte route in Manorhamilton

2. Seek to further develop the running track of North Leitrim AC

3.Have a Calendar of Events for the area

4. Look at feasibility of developing Heritage centre in the town tied in with renaming of Lower Main Street

Culture and Creativity - Sean O' Reilly, Leitrim Sculpture Centre and Philip Delamere

1. Share information on Festivals in the area

2. Expand out the 5 Glens Festival

3. Broaden out the appeal of the annual Cultural Night

Heritage and Tourism - Vincent Dwyer

1. Carry out review and evaluation of accommodation base in the area

2. Identify what is needed in terms of accommodation

3. Develop product within town centre to attract bus tours

 Town Planning and Development - Bernard Greene and Nollaig Whyte

1. Open dialogue with Dept. of Arts, Heritage and Gaeltacht and the owners of Manorhamilton Castle re restoring an element of the Castle.

2. Examine feasibility of developing riverside walk along Owenmore river

3. Make the town more cycle-friendly

4. Address strategic sites such as the Backlands and vacant/dilapidated sites in the town centre

The four workshops teams will meet a number of times over the next few months ahead of the next Town Centre meeting in order to progress these ideas.