By Cliona Connolly
cliona@monaghanpost.com

THE community of Clones rallied in a call for funding to re-secure Clones Community Forum in its current state amidst much nostalgia at the Forum AGM on Thursday last, 17 May.

As their main source of funding runs out this August, the Forum will no longer be able to fund full-time staff and will rely solely on volunteers on the Management Committee. Members of the local community spoke of their memories and admiration of the Forum and thanked those involved for their efforts in the Town during various projects.

Liam McKeever of Border Action said Clones had experienced significant growth in cross-border and cultural activities. However, Mr McKeever felt that despite all this positive activity and the town’s increasing beauty few people had a positive view of their town. There must be increased efforts in the decommissioning of minds, he said.

Clones is now a vibrant community and an example of best practice of cross-border community work according to Border Action and while groups such as the Forum will have to be more creative in seeking funding, there should be funding available to it in the future.

Guest speaker Paddy Logue, Independent Peace and Conflict Impact Consultant Research and Policy Adviser, said he was always struck by the appearance of Clones as a very quirky, truly iconic, historical town.

“It is terrible that this is last AGM because I would say it is only the beginning. There are still a lot of problems and difficulties to be overcome and the work of border groups should be intensified not wound down.”

Brian Morgan, Chairman of Clones Regeneration Partnership, agreed that as a community Clones does not boast enough about their town. Mr Morgan said he was hopeful that the grant aid for the Sports Complex would come through and that this will be a huge attraction for people in the town and lead to increased population as the Ulster Canal will be.

The Forum’s Josephine Treanor said all the hard work was down to the great team of people working in the forum. Ms Treanor thanked all the forum staff and paid special thanks to Angela Graham whom she described as “a genuine friend and a woman of integrity who brought so much to the community”.

Ms Treanor concluded saying she was confident that the management committee will continue to work in the community though the level of projects may be reduced.

Thanks are extended to those who sponsored the AGM raffle draw; Cuil Darach Restaurant, Pauric Geoghan’s Butcher Shop and McDaid’s Pharmacy.