THE work of the man who spearheaded a permanent memorial to those killed and injured in the Owencarrow rail disaster has been formally recognised by Donegal’s Volunteer Centre.

Ben McFadden has given 40 years to improving and promoting the wider Creeslough area and remains heavily involved in the various events and festivals that take place each year.

As well as the Creeslough Community Association of which he is chair, he is linked to the Tidy Towns, the Christmas Lights Committee and Creeslough Festival.

As recently as last month Ben was on hand to unveil a memorial to the victims of the 1925 Owencarrow rail tragedy which claimed the lives of four people.

The commemoration was a project years in the making and was made all the more poignant by the fact that in attendance was Kathleen Doyle, grand-daughter of crash victim Neil Duggan. Sadly Kathleen passed away days after the unveiling of the memorial stone.

Speaking about his award from the Donegal Volunteer Centre, Ben said he was surprised and humbled to have his work recognised.

“You never expect to receive these things but it was lovely to get it.

“Everything that goes on here in Creeslough I’m usually stuck in the middle of it somewhere so I suppose that’s why the Volunteer Centre thought of me.

“But the way I see it is that come the St Patrick’s Day celebrations or the Halloween festival and you see the youngsters dressed up and having fun or at Christmas when they get to meet Santa, that’s reward enough in itself.”

 A local historian and folklorist, Ben is also a musician as well as working with his local GAA club and the Mummers, an organisation that has raised substantial sums of money for various charities over the years.

Another string to his bow is a sale of household items. The project was set up in the absence of a planned auction and enables people to buy second hand furniture and other items at a very reasonable price. All proceeds from the donated goods go to the Creeslough Community Association.

“We use the money to buy weedkiller, strimmers and to cover things like public liability insurance. When you have all that you need a kitty,” said Ben.

The latest project gathering speed is the establishment of a corncutter statue. A practice long associated with the town, corncutting in Creeslough has inspired both a song and the name of a well known local pub.

For Ben McFadden it is all in a day’s work.

“I was surprised to get the award, especially so soon after the one I received from the community association. But it’s lovely and it’s further recognition of the work the association does for the town and surrounding areas,” he added.