Newtownmanor Community Development Group was formed in late 2007 to promote and enhance the Newtownmanor area and to develop existing facilities. A group of between 10 to 15 dedicated volunteers meet regularly to discuss local issues, organise projects and events. Recent projects include:

1. The complete re-refurbishment of Newtownmanor Hall, both internally and externally. The hall is now being used a minimum of 4 nights each week during the Winter months, with additional weekend bookings.
2. The erection of bi-lingual place-name stones at the 4 main entrances to the Newtownmanor area.
3. The erection of a limestone sculpture at Lough Doon viewing point.
4. The significant enhancement of the Bring Bank area at Newtownmanor Church.

Through our inclusion in voluntary initiatives such as the Adopt a Road and Bring Bank schemes, the Community Group hope to further enhance the beauty of the area to encourage outdoor recreation activities. Newtownmanor is already classified as an area of outstanding beauty and through the eventual upgrading of our civic areas, lakes and hill walks we hope that in time the Newtownmanor area will distinguish itself as a destination attractive to both locals, new residents and tourists.

To date we have received funding from the following bodies:-
• Leitrim Development Company
• Clár
• Foras na Gaeilge
• Leitrim County Council.

We are affiliated to The North Leitrim Network.

Current Projects include (August/Sept 2011)
• The Community Group is currently undertaking a Feasibility Study into the provision of a car park (to accommodate approx 50 cars) and children’s play area adjacent to Newtownmanor Community Hall. This will be our most significant project to date and is being supported by Leitrim Development Company.
• 2011 Floral Pride Competition
• On going facilitator of participants in the Rural Social Scheme

The Community Hall is available for Hire @ a cost of €15 per hour including light and heat. Terms and conditions apply.

Please contact us @ newtownmanorcdg@gmail.com

NEW MEMBERS WELCOME!

The John McKenna Traditional Irish Music Society was originally established in October 1978 by people in the Tarmon/Drumkeeran area of Co Leitrim

The aims of the society were:

•To honour the memory of John McKenna
•To foster, nurture and encourage traditional Irish music in the parish of Inishmagrath and the surroundings areas.
•To arrange for existing musicians to play and share their music on an informal basis.
•To promote Irish traditional music amongst young people in the locality.
•To erect a fitting memorial to John McKenna.
The Society ran a successful day event with traditional music; dance and song on the second Sunday in July each year. The Society hosted successful music competitions each year.

In September 1980 a memorial was erected to the memory of John McKenna, opposite St Patrick’s Church, Tarmon. The memorial was sculpted by Jim Joe McKiernan from Ballinamore, Co. Leitrim.

Unfortunately due to rising insurance costs and lack of funding the annual event had to be abandoned. In time the Society faded into obscurity in the early 1980’s.

The John McKenna traditional Irish Society was reformed in 1995 by members of the local community which included some members of the original society. The ethos of the society remains the same as the original Society with few alterations. The main objective of the Society continues to focus upon the promotion of traditional Irish music within the community. The reformed Society also added some ambitious goals including the purchase and restoration of the house where John McKenna was brought up in Tents, Tarmon. This project was successfully completed in 2008.

The reformed John McKenna Society held its first annual traditional weekend festival in 1995. The festival was a great success and has continued to grow from strength to strength since. In recent years the festival progressed from a three day event to a four day event such was the demand for concerts and other musical activities. The festival consists of a range of activities such as concerts, music sessions, work shops with musicians, music competitions and activities for children. The atmosphere from the festival spreads to the pubs in Drumkeeran which makes for a lively weekend.

John McKenna’s homestead at Tents, Tarmon is a prominent feature of the festival with an annual session held after Aifreann na Feile each year. The picturesque setting of the cottage – overlooking Lough Allen and surrounded by the rugged mountainous landscape of Drumkeeran and neighbouring Arigna makes this a truly unique event. The cottage in Tents has been as a base for Artists in Residence Niall Keegan and Jesse Smith.

The Society runs weekly music classes for children and young people in the area offering music classes in an array of different instruments- the flute exceeding other instruments in terms of its popularity. These classes have proved hugely successful with many of the young people whom have progressed going on to participate in the Fleadh Ceoil and various other traditional music occasions.

There are frequent informal music sessions held in the pubs in Drumkeeran and neighbouring areas. This assists in keeping the rich culture of traditional music alive in North Leitrim.

The Society remains committed to the continual nurturing and development of interest in Traditional Music in the area.