The Larchville & Lisduggan ‘renaissance’ continues to gather pace 

The community of Larchville and Lisduggan are continuing their extraordinary homegrown community expansion, with the upcoming addition of an ambitious new legacy item to be placed in the centre of the community.

The growth of the area is constant, and on a weekly basis various improvements and additions, big and small, are embarked upon by residents, such as the addition of fruit trees, community clean-ups, house painting and, just this week, five new benches were added to Belvedere Grotto.

The latest symbol of the community’s growth is a new landmark clock, which is being planned for outside St. Paul’s Church.

The large clock will serve as the area’s focal point and will be visible from all approach roads into the community centre.

The idea for the clock was first mooted in 2022, during the golden jubilee year.

The idea has persisted and resulted in the formation of a Jubilee Clock Committee, pioneered as an idea by Fr. Pat Fitzgerald, which has been meeting for the past several months.

Designed by well-known local architect Niall Harrington, the structure is a five-metre high, three-sided clock, stood atop a landscaped plinth.

The jubilee clock’s three distinct sides represent hope, love and faith.

A detailed design and planning application has now been submitted to the local authority.

It is hoped the clock will be unveiled in May, and the community are at the stage of gathering resources and raising funds to bring the project to completion.

Cllr John Hearne said the clock is a symbol of the community's work ethic and teamwork.

“We fund everything ourselves,” he said. 

“It marks the renaissance of Larchville as a great place to live. It’ll be the symbol of our area. 

"It’s a fantastic collaboration between the church, local tradesman and businessmen and the community itself.”