By Paddy Walsh

RESIDENTS of one of Letterkenny’s most iconic areas have called for recognition and support in their efforts to preserve and protect it.

Once known as Major’s Lane, but for close to two centuries marching to the name of the much better known Rosemount, the area is steeped in history and has continued to maintain its community ethos.

“It’s the jewel in the crown of old Letterkenny and we don’t say that lightly,” chairperson of the local Residents Association, Marina Carlin, insists.

“It means so much to so many people, not just those of us living here but those from other places in the town and the Letterkenny diaspora from all over the world.”

The Rosemount Residents Association was established in January last and the dedicated committee behind it have firm objectives on their agenda.

“We set up the group to help create a pleasant environment for the residents of the area and to get involved again in the Tidy Towns,” the chairperson explains.

There was also the objective of continuing the sterling work undertaken by the late Margaret Price, Siobhan Flaherty, and Sheila Duffy. “We wanted to follow in their amazing footsteps.

“Rosemount is a really historic area and one of the last authentic places representing old Letterkenny and, to date, the onus of preserving it is the sole responsibility of the residents.

“To that extent we’d appreciate the support of the wider community going forward.”

Maire Carlin, Chairperson of Rosemount Residents Association.

The Association is keen to liaise with the County Council to help the local residents progress their plans.

“Cllr Jimmy Kavanagh has given us money from the Development Fund for the provision of flowers and we are very grateful to him. He has been very supportive to us.”

There has, in addition, been donations from local business people, Kevin Blake and Terence Diver, to help offset expenses.

‘Rosemount Terrace is not just about the people who live here. People generally have a fondness for it because it represents Letterkenny. It’s also symbolic among the world wide diaspora of old Letterkenny that they carry in their hearts,” Marina maintains.

One member of that diaspora is Paula Boyle, who in her younger days would have been more than familiar with Rosemount given that she grew up in the Market Square. A friend of Marina, she has been visiting Letterkenny in recent weeks from her home in San Francisco.

“Paula always calls our row Puddle Alley and when she writes to me from the States, she puts that name on the address and it always gets to me,” says Marina.

Dublin native Orla Kavanagh has been living in Rosemount for the past 20 years having initially arrived in Donegal where her work as a nurse took her to Carndonagh.

She’s hasn’t lost the Dublin accent but her passion for her adopted home surpasses what she may even have felt for her native city.

“I love Rosemount and decided early on that that was where I wanted to put my head so I bought a house here.”

And here she has been – even if she changed houses in the meantime – for two decades and savouring every day of it. “There is truly a great community feel about the place – I’m delighted I made the move.”

Another member of the committee is Bridie Collins who didn’t have to travel too far to take up residence in Rosemount! “ I was born and bred here – there is really nowhere else I’d rather be.

“I have never ever thought of moving anywhere else because I’ve been here that long.”

But whether you’re native to the area or not, you do, as Marina and Orla can readily testify, become firmly attached to it once you’ve settled there.

“It still has that old world neighbourliness to it and has a fantastic community spirit but that, we feel, is not harnessed enough,”says Killygordon native, Marina, who set up home here in 1994 having previously lived and worked in far off Alaska.

“The minute I came here I fell in love with it. I rented out the house from John Devine, the taxi driver, and then he sold it to me and I’ve been here ever since.

“It’s not a place, it’s a feeling,” the Association chairperson declares.

“We have the same cache as the Cathedral Quarter and there’s a huge history to the area. We’re a living, breathing community every day.

“And now we want to get ourselves recognised before things come along that are out of our control. We want it to be in keeping with the spirit and community feel of Rosemount.”

Orla reflects on examples from her own native city. “We want to preserve it for future generations. I see what’s happened in some parts of Dublin and it’s so sad.”

In an area that also includes Duffy’s Lane and Rosemount Villas, the lane that was once called Major’s Lane – named after Major Leyley who occupied an old stately house in the locality – is decorated with richly coloured window boxes flowering in the summer sun. And back gardens neatly kept by their proud owners.

Truly a jewel in the crown that merits the support of the Council and other agencies as it bids to retain its character and charm.