Christmas in Longford: Newtownforbes community highlights of 2023

Christmas festivities in Newtownforbes are building to a crescendo as the big day approaches. In advance, Father Christmas paid a visit to the village recently.

Community activist Enda O'Brien says public engagement in the picturesque village is very good: “We had a visit from Santy last week. He arrived in the village, with his elves on the back of his motorcycle, escorted by the Gardaí. We always have a big celebration for Christmas.”

Enda said the festivities commenced Fr Ciaran McGovern blessing the crib and music by the local member of Comhaltas: “That was very special, it was followed by Sean Hussey playing music while Santy handed out presents to the children.”

The Tidy Towns members described an excellent turnout to the event: “We have a marvellous community, they are great at supporting local events.”
Enda, who is an active member of the local Tidy Town group, said 2023 had a number of high points for the voluntary group: “The big highlight of the year was our nomination for a Pride of Place award. We were nominated by Longford County Council.”

The IPB Pride of Place competition awards recognise the selfless efforts of people in making their local area a better place to live, work and socialise. The purpose of these awards is to acknowledge the work being done every day by communities all over the island of Ireland.
Newtownforbes received the nomination for their Biodiversity Trail and Nature Walk under the category Climate Action – Biodiversity: “It was a privilege to represent Longford at the national awards. To be put forward was terrific honour. We didn't secure the award, but Aughnacliff won the national title in their category.”

The Newtownforbes Tidy Towns group have been diligently working in the area. Last year they secured funding to revamp the community park and playground.
The grants from the Community Foundation of Ireland and Longford County Council have been put to good use: “We have been very busy all year.

The community garden and the playground have all had extensive work done on them. We planted lots of native hedging around the playground,” Enda said.
The Newtownforbes Heritage and Biodiversity Trail continues to attract people for walks throughout the year: “The Newtownforbes Heritage and Biodiversity Trail was developed by a sub-committee of the Tidy Town to develop a walkway down into the forest,” Enda explained, “It's a collaboration with 15 landowners.

The committee is working to get permission to complete a route from the Clonguish complex down to the Camlin. There was a lot of work to get it as far as it has gone.”
Work on that project continues: “We are hoping to extend the trail. It's proving very popular with walkers in the area.

The trail is a huge success. There are people walking it all day, every day. You will always meet people on it. People come out from Longford to walk on it. ”

The historic features of the village make it very beautiful, but there is a good deal of work involved in the day to day maintenance of the area: “Out Community Employment Scheme workers are very active. They keep the village looking very well,” Enda says.