Ardagh Village Neighbourhood Park was established in 1990 and had a lot of well-known figures of recent history attending it’s opening in March of that year.
An existing spruce woodland of 4 acres of land lay to the north of the village and was part of the Landlord’s Estate. The matrue woodland area was ripe for harvesting in the winter of 1989. Having cut down and cleared the area and adjoining one acre of land was added.
This one acre area contained an old schoolhouse and playground area. The owners of both properties generously donated the land to the Ardagh Tidy Town’s Committee. The committee voluntarily undertook the development of this site as an amenity area.
- January 1990 – Two thousand broadleafed trees were planted.
- The layout of the park and tree planting was designed by Dr Christy Boylan, then President of The Tree Council of Ireland and regular visitor to the village and park.
- February 1990 – the amenity area was fenced off from the adjoining agricultural land on one side, and the the walled area surrounding the side facing the road was extended by the with addition of 100 metres of limestone rock and the existing wall was completely restructured.
- March 1990 – The development of 1500 metres of pathways began. On the 4th March, Mr Charles Haughey T.D. Prime Minister of Ireland and at that time President of the European Community planted a sessile oak (the natural tree of Ireland) to launch National Tree Week, and unveil a commemorative plaque. This was a singular honour for Ardagh, the importance of this event was emphasised by the number of distinguished visitors, including Mr Albert Reynolds and Mrs Mary O’Rourke and Mr Louis Belton.
The Tidy Towns Committee undertook the reconstruction and refurbishment of the old school building to be used as a recreational heritage centre. The aim of “The Neighbourhood Park” would be to provide a recreational area for the local inhabitants and for visitors, giving an awareness of the environmental value.
More recently President Michael D Higgins visited Ardagh Neighbourhood Park to plant a Weeping Willow on 14th March 2014, using the traditional Tree Planting Spade.
