Residents in Drumbreda and St Brigid’s Hill are taking the upkeep of their Armagh neighbourhoods into their own hands after a £3,248 National Lottery grant provided the equipment needed for regular clean-ups.
The Drumbreda and St Brigid’s Hill Community Association used the funding to buy a weed-ripping machine, a push-along road sweeper, a lawnmower and a strimmer. Volunteers have already begun using the equipment to tackle weeds, moss and general maintenance around walls, fences, footpaths and kerbs.
Association treasurer Gillian McCartney said residents had been delighted by the improvements, describing the grant as a major boost for the group’s work.
“We were able to buy a big weed ripper machine, which is great. It goes along and whips out all the weeds up the sides of walls and fences and all the moss along the footpaths and kerbs. We were also able to get a push along road sweeper, a lawnmower and a strimmer out of the funding too.”
New equipment already in use
The association applied specifically for the grant because estate clean-ups and litter-picks are an important part of its day-to-day activity. The new equipment is intended to help volunteers keep the two neighbouring housing estates looking well maintained over the years ahead.
McCartney said the National Lottery had awarded the full amount requested, allowing the association to purchase all of the equipment it had identified as necessary.
“The National Lottery were very good. They gave us the whole amount we applied for and we’ve acquired all the equipment and have already been out using it.”
The volunteer-led approach reflects a long-running effort to improve the areas covered by the association. The group was formed in the 1970s and has spent decades bringing residents together, organising activities and working directly on local improvements.
Its committee now has seven members. McCartney said the association had continued despite the loss of its former community centre and changes in its volunteer base, with new people stepping forward as older volunteers moved on.
“There would have been a community centre way back then when the committee was formed which doesn’t exist anymore. Different volunteers have come on board through the years. As older volunteers have left, other people have stepped in to try to keep it running.”
Activities bring generations together
The association’s work extends beyond cleaning and maintenance. Over the past year, it has run a knitting group and an art group, arranged a children’s day trip to Craigavon Lakes and held a Christmas pantomime for families who might otherwise be unable to attend one.
Older residents have also been included through a Christmas dinner at the Harps Social Club on the Loughgall Road. For those unable to attend last year, volunteers delivered meals to their homes, and the association hopes to repeat that service.
Other activities have included children’s movie nights at the Harps GAA Club at Abbey Park, a sports “come and show” evening featuring a young MMA competitor and his trophies, and an evening tea with live music and conversation. The events are designed to bring younger and older residents together.
“It’s very much a community thing for that area, the same as the likes of Callanbridge, Mullacreevie and Drumarg also all have residents’ groups, and we would link in with the West Armagh Consortium, who also link across Portadown, Brownlow, Craigavon, Banbridge and that through neighbourhood renewal.”
The association has also received council support for activities including residents’ dinners, the pantomime and children’s arts and crafts classes. It is hoping to take children to another pantomime and organise another Christmas dinner for older residents.
Why local upkeep matters
McCartney said community involvement was particularly important because public bodies do not always have the capacity or remit to deal with every aspect of estate maintenance. She said the council handled rubbish, while the Department for Infrastructure dealt with weeds but not moss, leaving communities to address some of the work themselves.
“So it really is up to the communities to keep their own areas looking good and welcoming. It is all about taking pride in your community and, if you don’t have these types of groups, well then, there’s nothing happening. It just goes to ruin.”
The association said it was pleased to have secured the Lottery support and encouraged other community groups to consider applying for funding. McCartney said the grants were available to local organisations and offered a way for residents to make a practical difference in their own areas.