The community of Drumhowan proudly represented Co. Monaghan in this year’s IPB all-Ireland Pride of Place competition. Over two and a half hours on a glorious autumn morning, adjudicators William Beattie and John Fitzgerald were introduced to the people of this select corner of the county, where people give their allegiance to the area as much by choice as by an accident of birth – over the course of the visit, the adjudicators were introduced to all manner of ‘defectors’ from neighbouring communities! The visit started with an explanation of the football club’s crest, and a ‘christening’ of a beautiful new seat made by local man Francis Gerard Duffy.
Aine Aventin then delivered a fantastic powerpoint presentation which summarised the story of the community and the various activities and achievements over the past fifty years. The adjudicators then viewed some mementos from past projects, including videos from threshing and mud making days, and a wonderful photographic project which captured the people living in the area at a particular time.
The adjudicators then toured the community centre and were told of how the whole community came out at 3am one morning to save the centre from a catastrophic flood. They were shown also the football grounds and told how the grounds were named after a local man who had meant a lot to the community, rather than some far-removed patriot.
The adjudicators then boarded a bus and were treated to a short snippet of Tommy McArdle’s genealogy tour, which he had researched for the group’s ‘The Gathering’ project, a 5-day festival of Duffys from all over the world. En route, the multiple-award winning Ballintra Players re-enacted the founding of Drumhowan Football Club, at the very spot on which it happened.
The bus returned to the community centre, where people had gathered from near and far to view the World Premiere of ‘People of Drumhowan’, a short film produced by ‘Up Drumhowan Productions’ especially for the occasion. The film featured many local people speaking to camera about life in Drumhowan and what it means to them, and it captured beautifully the depth of dedication and love the people of this community have for each other and their place.
Thanks to the committee members from neighbour Latton/ Bawn, who represented Co Monaghan in last year’s Pride of Place, and came over to support Drumhowan on their big day. Elected Members and staff from Monaghan County Council’s Clones Ballybay MD and Community & Enterprise Dept were also out in force to offer support, which was greatly appreciated.
