ALL SAINTS CHURCH

CLONBUR

Photo by Colin Boyle

Joyce Country Tourism has applied for Geopark status with the European Geopark Network and has met the initial criteria and has been granted Aspirant Geopark Status. A European Geopark is a territory  of particular importance in terms of its scientific quality, rarity, aesthetic appeal or educational value. The application for Geopark status will be greatly enhanced by the proposal to use All Saints Church  as the focal point of the park. The finished building will have a mezzanine (floating) floor that will provide office space for the Geopark Development Officer and administrative assistance. Downstairs will provide an exhibition space, a genealogical service and an occasional exhibition/cultural space. The exhibitions / events that are envisaged include:

The Church will be a starting point of the Geopark for finding information for themed drives, walks and cycles. It will also be a venue to meet guides that will interpret the landscape, adding value to the tourist’s experience of the Joyce Country area. It will be a natural information point for tourist. Plans are underway  to complete the building work on the Church. In 2009 the roof was restored. The next phase of the construction work will restore the interior and create a working building. The estimated cost of completion is €150,000. We have had confirmation from Udaras that they will give matching funds to complete the project, which means that the community must raise €75,000 by 31^st October 2012. A number of fundraising initiatives will be taking place in the next few months.

Your Support would be very welcome.

Contact Pearse Doherty 087 1320463

Tá iarratas déanta ag Turasóireacht Dhúiche Sheoigheach ar stádas Geopháirc leis an líonra Geopháirceanna Eorpacha agus leis an critéir riachtanach bainte amach againn tá an teideal Geopháirc Ionchasach gnóthaithe ag an gceantar. Is éard atá sa Geopháirc Eorpach ná ceantar de thábhacht ar leith i dtaobh caighdeán eolaíochta, uathúlacht, áilleacht nó luach oideachasúil. Beidh ár n-iarratas ar lán-stádas Geopháirc feabhsaithe go mór mar gheall ar an togra a chuireann Séipéilín an Uile-Naomh mar cheanncheathrún na páirce. Cuimsíodh an foirgneamh críochnaithe úrlár uachtrach (crochta) ann a lonnófar spás oifige le haghaidh Oifigeach Forbartha na Geopháirce agus an lucht riaracháin. Thíos staighre beidh spás taispeántais, seirbhís ginealais, agus spás cultúrtha le haghaidh ócáidí.

Cuimsíodh na taispeántais atá i gceist:

• Taispeántais geolaíocha, luicheolaíocha agus seandálaíochta
• Taispeántais ealaine / griangrafadóireachta – Dúiche Sheoigheach san am atá caite agus am aimsir reatha
• Taispeántais bunaithe ar an timpeallacht
• Eolas turasóireachta
• Taispeántais stairiúla ar thiarna talúin insan gceantar
• Imeachtaí cultúrtha – ionad ceoil/amharclainne
• Ceanncheathrún don tseachtain oidhreachta agus ócáidí eile

Beidh an Séipéal mar thúsphointe don Geopháirc chun eolas a fháil ar thiomáintí, siúlóidí agus cúrsaí rothaíochta. Chomh maith leis sin, feidhmíodh sé ar ionad le bualadh le treoraithe a thabharfaidh léargas ar an dtírdhreacht, ag cur le luach agus taitneamh le heispéireas an thurasóra ar cheantar Dhúiche Sheoigheach. Beidh an ionad mar phointe eolais nádúrtha don turasóir. Tá pleanáil ar bun faoi láthair chun an obair tógála a chríochnú ar an séipéal. I 2009, deisíodh an díon. Críochnóidh an chéad chéim eile an taobh istigh sé ag crríochnú an fhoirgnimh  Meastar go gcosnaíodh an obair ar fad €150,000. Tá sé dearbhaithe ag Údarás na Gaeltachta go mbeidh maoiniú comhoiriúnacha le fail chun an togra a chríochnú, rud a chiallaíonn go mbeidh ar an bpobal €75,000 a bhailiú roimh 31 Deireadh Fómhar 2012. Beidh imeachtaí éagsúla tiomsaithe airgid ar siúl le linn na míonna amach romhainn.

Cuirtear fáilte roimh do chuid tacaíochta.