Few developments in Ballaghaderreen will be greeted with as much public enthusiasm as the
new Abbeyfield Hotel Conference and Leisure Centre which is due to open its doors to the
public next Spring.

For many years, the town, an important market town with a large hinterland in counties Roscommon, Mayo and Sligo was without a hotel, meaning that the town lost out in business terms. Now, all that is to be put right, with the creation of a state-of-the-art four-star hotel designed by Architects ‘Turner Designs Roscommon’ and ‘Westcon Engineering’  Oranmore , Galway ,incorporating a contemporary design with all the facilities of an ultra modern hotel, while retaining a traditional atmosphere and timeless elegance.

The new hotel is built in an historic area of the town, on the site of an old Abbey
which also formed part of the Bishop’s Palace in Ballaghaderreen for over 100 years.

The hotel which is being developed on an extensive 5.25 acre site will have planted over 2,000 shrubs and trees as part of its landscaping plan, and these will complement the mature trees which already surround the site.

Until now, local weddings have had to take place in a distant location, but the Abbeyfield Hotel Conference & Leisure Centre will provide the perfect backdrop for Roscommon nuptuals and as the hotel will only host one wedding party each day, they promise to give full attention to providing wedding guests with the perfect day.

The Abbeyfield Hotel is built to 4 star specifications, offering 70 luxurious bedrooms, comprising of 40 bedrooms in the main hotel and an additional 30 contemporary executive and family suites, each with their own living areas.  As well as the unrivalled Gray Suite, state of the art conference facilities, a superb leisure and Wellness Centre and of course a top class restaurant, Oscars Restaurant, is also promised.

Guest rooms in the hotel will feature as standard plasma screen with interactive TV,
free wifi access, club executive class beds, tea and coffee hospitality tray, iron and
ironing board and hairdryer. Most rooms included individually controlled air conditioning.

Elegant banqueting suites will cater for every event from an intimate dinner to a
large gala ball. The hotel will have flexible conference facilities for 300 delegates and can also facilitate smaller groups of 35-40 people and 15-20 people in its well-appointed meeting rooms.

The leisure centre features a 15-metre pool on the ground floor. Guests and members can also look forward to a sauna, steam room and spa bath. Upstairs features include air conditioned gym with state-of-the-art equipment, an aerobic and exercise studio and treatment rooms.

  The developer of the new hotel project is local man Martin Carty. Martin has been in
the construction business in the Ballaghaderreen area for 30 years, having completed a number
of housing developments, but this is by far the most prestigious project undertaken to
date.

  The hotel is being developed by Archhill Properties Ltd and the contractors to the new hotel is Carty
Building (Ballaghaderreen) LTD, of which Martin is Managing Director of both. The new hotel when fully
operational, will employ 75 people.


  The hotel will be located on the main entrance to Ballaghaderreen from the planned
new by-pass of the town, ensuring ease of access to both the town and the N5 for
residents and guests.

  A sales office for the new hotel is currently open at Unit 3 Ballaghaderreen Business
Park, Dublin Road, Ballaghaderreen. The office will remain open until the hotel is up and
running and staff can introduce facilities which will be available at Abbeyfield Hotel Conference & Leisure Centre from Spring 2008.

  For further information telephone (094) 98 62736, fax (094) 98 62738, email
info@abbeyfieldhotel.ie or visit www.abbeyfieldhotel.ie.

Ballaghaderreen native and well known Fiddle Musician and Writer, Máire McDonnell-Garvey, will be honoured on Wednesday night, July 4th at The Dr. Douglas Hyde Summer School Gala Concert in Durkins in Ballaghaderreen. The presentation is being made by Ballaghaderreen & Districts Development Ltd in recognition of her lifetime contribution to Traditional Irish Music. Máíre is well known in traditional circles throughout Ireland and abroad. She is an authority on Irish Traditional Music, its history, tunes and those for whom it was composed.  She is the author of “Mid Connaught –  Ancient  Territory of Sliabh Lugha” as well as “A Traditional Music Journey 1600 – 2000: From Erris to Mullaghban” and  “Cómhrá na dTonn: The Conversation of the Waves”.

Máire McDonnell

She also re-issued the “Collection of Traditional Irish Dance Music” which was edited and bowed scientifically for the violin with 26 original compositions arranged for piano or violin by P.J. Giblin, first compiled by Giblin and published in Germany in 1928. Máire was a pupil of Giblin and the reissue of this interesting work is testament to her great interest in preserving Traditional Irish Music.   Her most recent work “Under the Shadow of the Summerhills” gives an account of her formative years growing up in Ballaghaderreen from 1927 to 1948 when she moved to Dublin.  This book presents a vivid picture of the history, politics, social life, characters and traditional music of the wider Ballaghaderreen area.

 This concert will feature the Summer School tutors including Breda Smyth, Johnny McDonagh(Ringo), Michael Hurley, Marion Egan, Mary Murray, Sacra Furey,  Michael McNamara, Paul Smyth, Brendan Larrissey, John McHugh, Bernie Geraghty, Junior Davey, Michael Rooney, Marese O’Hora Tommy Doherty, John Regan, Charles O’Connor, Jarlath Brennan, Shane Mulchrone, Seamie O’Dowd and Sean Nós Singer,  Mairéad Ní Fhlatharta and Traditional Singer, Pat Prunty   as well as a host of visiting musicians from far and near.  

The Hyde Summer School opens on Saturday June 30th and continues until Saturday July 7th.   It offers tuition in Fiddle, Flute, Tin Whistle, Concertina, Piano Accordion,  Button Accordion,  Banjo, Traditional Guitar, Bodhrán, Harp, Sean Nós Singing, Traditional Singing (in English) and Comhrá Gaeilge.  The Summer School also hosts an Art Exhibition of the Works of Local and Visiting Artists.  This year sees the introduction of a bi-lingual Wood Turning Exhibition/Workshop which will take place on the Square on Saturday June 30th.  Also new this year is a Busking Competition on the Square on Sunday evening July 1st commencing at 6.00p.m

Great progress has been made at Ballaghaderreen Community Park in 2006 with the 130m x 100m playing area now completed, and the training/jogging track and fence due to be finished shortly. The main contractor is ‘Emerald Pitch Services’ of Edenderry, Co. Offaly.  Work began in late June and progressed at a great pace during the beautiful summer weather.  Topsoil was removed and stored; the field laser levelled; the soil replaced and mixed with Wexford sand; then the drainage work carried out.  The field was seeded in September and is now sporting a lovely green carpet of grass.  The playing area should be ready for use in late summer 2007.

Early in 2006 the Minister for Arts, Sports and Tourism, Mr. John O’Donoghue TD, officially launched the project and turned the first sod, while Rev Dr Thomas Flynn blessed the park and all who work and use it for recreation in the future.  St. Attracta’s School Band entertained the attendants, which included local politicians, members of the media, children, teachers and many other locals.

By this summer the field and track will be ready for use.  A very successful fundraising draw last spring raised a profit of €50,000, while the company were successful in obtaining an amenity grant of €4,000 from Roscommon County Council in 2006.  Almost all of this money has been spent to meet the local contribution needed to supplement the €120,000 received from the Sports Capital Programme and €24,000 of Clar Funding.  When this phase of the project is complete it will have cost in the region of €200,000.

The committee are now concentrating on the provision of changing facilities in a new Clubhouse, which it is hoped will be built this year.  A Walking Lane around the field is also planned, while an Astroturf Pitch will complete the development.  The committee are hopeful they will be successful for another grant under the 2007 Sports Capital Programme towards the cost of the Clubhouse.  Again however a local contribution of 20% will be necessary to meet any allocation.  The committee have launched a ‘Sponsor a Block’ campaign, whereby people interested in contributing to the building costs of the Clubhouse may sponsor a block, or more than one block, for €50 each.  A receipt will be issued and the sponsor’s name will be displayed in the Clubhouse for future generations to see.  The committee are appealing for support for their fundraising campaign so that the dream of a top-class sports and recreation facility for everyone will become a reality.  They would especially love to receive any donations from Ballaghaderreen people living abroad who would like to be associated with this project in their native area and have that help recognised through the displaying of all the sponsors names.

Those wishing to help may credit the account of Ballaghaderreen Community Park at AIB, Main Street, Ballaghaderreen:

A/c No:              61348165

Sort Code:         93-25-58

The committee would like to thank all who have contributed in any way to this project, and are hoping for your continued support.

The enquiries this year, not only from all over Europe but much further afield, have been more numerous than in previous years and the number of firm bookings from outside Ireland is greater than ever. The Dr. Douglas Hyde Summer School is not only a cultural event but each year is becoming more important on the Irish tourist calendar.

Ballaghaderreen and Districts Development wish to thank the Rev. Dr. Martin Convey, President of St. Nathy's for giving the use of the College again this year to stage the Summer School. St. Nathy's is by far the best venue for a music summer school in Ireland, and our students from overseas are always most impressed by the facilities. B&DD also wish to thank all our sponsors and patrons without whom this School would not have developed and we trust that in coming years they will reap financial rewards for the support they have given to this venture.
Full details contact 086 8272300 or www.douglashyde.com