Impressive Dún na Sí ‘has gone from strength to strength’

By David Flynn

Moate's impressive historical tourism asset, Dún na Sí, has gone from strength to strength, particularly over the past decade.

The parkland, which has been nominated in the 'community tourism initiative' section of the Pride of Place awards, serves as a huge arena for activities of education, environment and culture.

Karen Nugent, general manager of Dún na Sí, along with Brendan Doyle, finance director, gave an excellent presentation to the Pride of Place judges who jovially said they didn't mind the rain that fell during their visit on Wednesday, August 21.

As the judges and Dún na Sí volunteers huddled together, away from the elements, in the main building of the centre, Karen began by talking about the history of the place, telling them it was originally a cowpark, which was given by the church to the people of Moate post-1870.

"The people could probably afford an animal, but not the land for to graze them, so it was given for that use," said Karen.

As the decades went by, eventually the land was taken over by Westmeath County Council. Volunteers then came onto to the land, to take it over, and helped build Dún na Sí into the great tourism gem and facility for community use that it is today.

Brendan Doyle, finance director, told the judges and those gathered that in the days when it was a cowpark there was a swamp which was called a lake, but, in fact, was a turlough.

"It was also of significant archaeological interest, and it was decided to develop the park around the turlough," said Brendan.

Moate Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann planned to develop a heritage park in the area, and the main Dun na Si building where the Pride of Place judges met the volunteers last week, is situated on the boundary of both the Amenity and Heritage parks.

In 1985, Comhaltas started their project and ANCO (which later became FAS) built the Dún na Sí Heritage Centre. "We have had Community Employment schemes here ever since, and they are mainly responsible for developing the Heritage Park over the years," said Brendan.

"As the Amenity Park got developed, over €1 million was spent, and it was mainly fundraised through LEADER, the county council and a local fundraising effort.”

The 27 acres of Moate parkland at Dún na Sí includes eighteen points of interest such as a Mass rock, a fisherman's cottage, a hedge school, forge, rural museum, ring fort, dolmen and stone circle.

Brendan talked about the time, during the mid 2010s, when it was agreed that it "made perfect sense" to operate both parks under the one heading, and so the Amenity Park, and the Heritage Park became the Dún na Sí Amenity and Heritage Park, operated under the company Midland Community Park CLG.

"There have been many many developments since, small and large, and the most significant of those would have been Pobal CSP (Community Services Programme) in 2018, which transferred us from 'volunteer only' to a park that could have full-time staff, and it transformed the park," said Brendan.

Both Karen and Brendan cited the importance of the volunteers of Dún na Sí. "The people here have great passion for the work they put in," said Karen. The gathering on Wednesday was shown some video footage, from over a decade ago, of the development of Dún na Sí.

The amenity remains open from April to September, but events are also held at Halloween and Christmas. "We run events with Westmeath Sports partnership and had some Tai Chi last week, which was very relaxing for everybody," said Karen.

"We do Arts projects with Creative Ireland, the Heritage Council supports us, and Fáilte Ireland pushes us as a tourist attraction and gives us the tools we need to promote ourselves to that market."

She praised the Community Employment scheme staff in Dún na Sí, who are supported by the Department of Social Protection.

"We're pulling from a lot of streams, and could be applying for ten and twenty grants every year. If we are successful, grand, and it not we'll go back again next year," said Karen.

"The voluntary board and members of the community come up with creative ways to raise funds: Family Fun Days, Halloween Spooktacular, Christmas Events, ‘Buy a Brick’ for the rural museum, Adopt a Tree and various other fundraising events."

Monaghan’s Hillgrove Hotel is the venue for this year’s Pride of Place awards event in early November.