Looking back at December 2022

A gold chalice almost 400 years old that was spirited away from Jamestown Friary sometime after the Cromwellian invasion of Ireland was proudly returned to Leitrim on Sunday, December 11.
The Muintir Eolais Chalice was given to the Franciscan Friary in Jamestown in 1644. The precious chalice was hidden when Cromwellian forces attacked Ireland during the 17th century. Jamestown fell to Cromwellian forces on March 19, 1653, and the Franciscan order was ordered to leave the country.
However, the priests took to the woods and mountains to perform mass in secret, taking the chalice with them.
The chalice appeared to be lost to the ages, however, local historian and author, Monsignor Liam Kelly conducted research and discovered in 2017 that the chalice was being housed in the Mount Saint Joseph convent of the Sisters of Charity in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Msgr Kelly contacted the convent who had no idea what the chalice was or that it had originated from County Leitrim in Ireland nearly 400 years ago.
It was agreed that the chalice would be taken home to Leitrim and Msgr Kelly travelled to Cincinnati in October to bring it back home.
Msgr Kelly presented the chalice to Fr Francis Garvey, Parish Priest, Kiltoghert, in a ceremony after 12pm mass in St Mary's Church, Carrick-on-Shannon.
The chalice will now be kept on public display at St George's Heritage Centre in Carrick-on-Shannon.
A technical report from the Department of Education painted a damning picture of a school principal, staff and pupils having to cope in packed undersized classrooms with major defects and issues identified that need immediate attention at Scoil Mhuire primary school in Carrick-on-Shannon.
A severe shortage of recreational and parking space, the associated traffic chaos, as well as antiquated buildings all pointed to the urgent need for a modern new school to be constructed on a new site elsewhere in the town.
Leitrim County Council was successful in securing funding in December totalling €1,216,804 across a number of Town and Village Scheme measures to combat dereliction and breathe new life into rural towns and villages.
The funding includes the Town and Village Main Scheme, the Streetscape Enhancement measure, the Building Acquisition measure, the Project Development measure and the Marketing measure.
Under the Main Scheme, Carrick-on-Shannon is to receive €435,013 for further development in The Market Yard, with €135,281 to upgrade the Lough Allen Education Centre in Drumshanbo.
Manorhamilton is to receive €113,400 to revitalise the streetscape in the town, and Kiltyclogher receives €55,042 for several projects including a community café.
In addition, €100,000 has been earmarked for Carrick- on-Shannon for streetscape enhancement, and €270,000 under building acquisition for a multi-purpose community space.
Also, €50,000 has been announced for the marketing and promotion of County Leitrim as a place in which to live, work and invest.