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Heritage Park Opening

Mr. John O'Donoghue TD, Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism will officially open Bonane Heritage Park @ 3.00pm on Sunday 11 th June 2006. This is a very important day in the life of the Bonane Community as it marks the culmination of several years work, most of it done on a voluntary basis. The Heritage Park is an archaeological treasure trove of monuments dating from Neolithic to modern times. A circular route guides the visitor along a track that provides spectacular views of the Bonane valley while completing the forty five minute circuit.

Visitors will have opportunity to avail of guided tours of the Heritage Park. Entertainment will be provided while light refreshments will be provided to revive your energy after your 45 minute tour.

Please follow the signs to the parking area, stewards will be available to assist with directions. The committee would ask visitors to refrain from parking along the by-roads.

The committee is extending an invitation to as many visitors as possible. We appreciate your co-operation in making it an enjoyable day for all participants

Bonane Community Co-op

The AGM of the Bonane Community Co-operative Societywas held on Friday 10th March 2006 @ 8.00pm in Molly Gallivans Bonane.

Agenda

1. Minutes of Previous AGM
2. Chairman's report
3. Adoption of accounts and auditors report
4. Election of Committee of Management
5. Election of Auditor
6. Any Other Business

The chairman, Danny O' Connor, opened the meeting and outlined the order of business for the evening. In his address he commented on the progress in the Heritage Park during the past 12 months,

• The provision of a office / workshed at the park entrance
• The provision of information signs at the monuments
• The upgrade of the paths in the park
• Ongoing site maintenance
• The provision of seating near the pathways to the monuments
• Provision of Heritage Park signs on the N71
• The construction and placement of the crannog adjacent to the entrance
• The large numbers of visitors who visited the Heritage during the year

The chairman thanked everyone who contributed to the success of the park during the past twelve months.

The chairman announced that the official opening of the Heritage Park would be on June 11th 2006. Minister John O' Donoghue has ben invited to perform the official opening.

A special meeting will be held in Molly Gallivans to initiate plans for the opening.

The following committee of management was elected:

Danny O' Connor, Patsy O' Sullivan, Stephen O' Sullivan, Shiela O' Sullivan, Michael Reidy, Caroline O' Reilly, Susan O' Shea, pat O' Sullivan.

Brendan O' Sulllivan was reappointed auditor to the Co-op for the year.

The chairman thanked the members for their attendance and closed the meeting.

Bonane Heritage Park

The Bonane Community Development Co-operative Society was formed with the prime objective of preserving the historical and archaeological sites of Bonane.  The current task being undertaken is the development of the Bonane Heritage Park at Dromagorteen. The site contains a significant number of diverse archaeological monuments including a stone circle with a boulder burial, fulacht- fia, a large ring fort, the ruin of a famine house and traces of field systems. Progress to date has seen the construction of a road that leads onto a circular pathway which guides you on a journey to the various monuments. The information signs will inform the visitor on the detail of each monument thereby guiding you through the pages of time in a unique and personal way that unfolds the richness of the landscape and the people.

Over time we are confident that the Bonane Heritage Park will develop into a visual experience that will provide the visitor with a unique insight into the habitation of Bonane from pre-history to modern times.

The vision of the committee has always been that the Bonane Heritage Park should be owned and controlled by the community. To ensure that this objective is achieved and to provide funding for the project, the people of the parish and those connected with the parish are invited to subscribe for shares in the co-operative society. The shares are priced at €1 per share, so nobody need feel excluded, we are hopeful that people will subscribe more than the minimum thereby availing of the opportunity to be involved in the development of a unique feature in the parish.

A summary of the public presentation regarding the development of the

Bonane Heritage Park can be viewed by clicking here.

Should you wish to contact us please email to bonanecommunity@eircom.net   

Upgrade of the Bonane Road

Bonane Community are pleased with the announcement that the National Roads Authority have allocated €900,000 towards improvements of the Bonane Road.

The following is the braekdown of the allocation

Bonane Road Surface       €400,000

Bonane Road Safety        €300,000

Releigh Bridge                €200,000

The Community Council recognise the requirement to carry out repairs to the Releigh Bridge but they are anxious that any repairs would be carried out in a menner that would preserve the unique style character and stone work on the bridge.

The Bonane Book

"Bonane, It's people and the places we call home

There are a small number of copies available, if you wish to purchase a copy @ €35 please contact Bonane Post Office on 00353(0)64 41520 or     e-mail bonanecommunity@eircom.net

Community Room

The two computers and the photocopier are available for community use, please continue your contribution of €3 per visit to cover the cost of ink, paper, heating etc.

Rural Transport

Our Rural Transport scheme is now in operation since October 2nd 2002 and runs every Wednesday.
Depart Kenmare 10.00am/Releigh Bridge 10.30am/ Depart Kenmare 1.30pm. This is a fantastic service and the Community Council would urge as many as possible to use it.

If you would like to contribute to our news page please e-mail us at bonanecommunity@eircom.net