Transition Monaghan held a meeting on 5th January 2022 on ZOOM.

Members in attendance:
Dermot McNally (Chair), Collette McEntee (Treasurer), Floss Moen (Column Editor), Liam Murtagh (SPC Delegate), Eddie O’Gara (SPC Delegate), Niamh Brannigan, Bernie O’Flaherty, Charlie Barker, Emer Brennan and Marty Connolly.

Agenda:
Dermot welcomed attendees and move to invite speakers.

Liam Murtagh presented a comprehensive overview of the history of Lough Muckno, it’s development history, most recent Co Council development plans and initiated feasibility study, local objections to the thrust of the Co Council plan and an alternative viewpoint put forward by Friends of Lough Muckno. Niamh gave her impressions of the process and her opinion of how the “consultation” was managed. Bernie also gave insight into water quality and how historic damage (when effluent run off was less restricted) affects the water quality up to this day.

Niamh and Floss spoke about the Sustainable Christmas Climate Café that was done with Dochas for Women – it was carried out on Zoom and was very successful. Floss has created a e-book using the material from the presentation that can be accessed here. They hope to further develop the idea this year and run more Climate Cafés based on Tara Shine’s book ‘How to Save Your Planet One Object at a Time’.

Floss spoke in her role as Editor of Transition Monaghan’s column in the Northern Standard. She is also reaching out to Northern Sound and did an interview on air before Christmas.

Dermot spoke about the website relaunch and welcomed members to supply material to both the website and the column.

Eddie O’Gara gave his insight from his first meeting in his role as Transition delegate to Monaghan County Council’s Special Policy Committee.

Dermot noted the recent achievements of Monaghan Tidy Towns. Emer Brennan offered to speak about the activities of Monaghan Tidy Towns at the next Transition Monaghan meeting.

Dermot asked Bernie about her involvement in the removal of invasive species at Rossmore Park. She explained that Coillte are now managing areas of Rossmore to remove invasive species. She also mentioned how a survey of the river corridor was carried out in Rossmore Park and she will share at a future meeting.

Dermot mentioned his hope that a TM trip in the near future can be carried out to Lough Muckno where Liam might give attendees insights into the proposed developments. The hope is that other interested groups might also get to attend (i.e. friends of Lough Muckno, Siolta Chroi, the new IWT Monaghan Branch and Wild Monaghan).