Glenfarne Demesne
August 8th, 2006 by admin
Location: Glenfarne Demesne is about 1.5 km north of Glenfarne on Manorhamilton/Enniskillen road. It can be located on discovery map number 17, grid reference H-015 405.
Facilities: There is a picnic area and boat quay at the lake, but the road through the Demesne is not open to the public. Harvesting of trees takes place on a regular basis in this area, so the visiting public should exercise care when visiting this site. You can also view four sculptors which have been erected along the shores of Lough Macnean.
Length of Trail: At Glenfarne Demesne you can enjoy about 2.5 km of walks or a drive along the lake shore.
Habitat: The site is on the shores of Lough Macnean.
Main Tree Species: The Demesne forest comprises Sitka spruce with some Norway spruce, old Scots pine and European larch. Some oak, ash, holly, birch and alder are also present.
Other Flora: Common woodland flora with iris and reed on the shoreline.
Fauna: Red squirrel, badgers, foxes and hares can be found at Glenfarne Demesne. You can also see some Mallard duck which congregate on the western shore of the lake during winter and spring.
History: The site consists of old woodland (part of the Tottenham Estate) most of which is re-planted.
Geology: Glacial drift.
In 2000, a unique project came to fruition in the Glenfarne Demesne in northeast Leitrim. Situated on the shores of Lough MacNean, this property once formed a portion of the Tottenham estate, where large-scale plantings of broadleaves and conifers took place from the late 1930’s to the 1950’s.
Lough MacNean marks the border between the counties of Leitrim, Cavan and Fermanagh. In late 1999, Coillte was approached by the Lough Macnean Sculpture Trail Committee, which is a partnership between the Manorhamilton Arts Group and the Belcoo and District Development Group. The aim of the project, which is cross-border and cross-community, is to promote reconciliation between the communities of these three counties through the medium of sculpture and the visual arts.
The past years of political turmoil and strife have created divisions between these communities while the closure of border roads, and the natural barrier of the Lough, created a physical division between former neighbours, friends and families. However, recent events have provided the opportunity to re-establish these links, and this is at the core of the project.
Ten artists spent two months each researching their themes and creating their work. The sculptures are a visible reminder of a creative process reaching deep into the communities, as residents associations, women’s organisations and special interest groups collaborated with the artists to design appropriate works for this environment. In addition, specially appointed school’s artists worked with both primary and secondary level students to create sculptures for the schools of the area.
Three sculptures have been sited in the Glenfarne Demesne. “Inis Ochta� (Martina Galvin) and “Glean Fearmuighe� is a pair of mirrored panels set in such a way as to reflect the Leitrim and Fermanagh shores, symbolically linking these in the area image. “Reflectress� (Anna Macleod) is sited at Ladies Rest, where the ladies of Tottenham Hall used come to swim and relax. The shape of the piece represents the hooped skirts of the period and the four blue glass panels echo the colour of the water. “Point of Contact� (Derek Whitticase) at Island View represents the two chemical symbols for hydrogen and oxygen, separate in their own right, but when combined, create water. Built of two contrasting materials, wood and stone, this piece again symbolises the coming together of two distinct and diverse elements. To further emphasise this point the wood came from Florence Court in Co. Fermanagh and the stone from Co. Leitrim.
The Demesne was a hive of activity in August and September of 2000, when the pieces were ready for installation. Overseeing this were Eamon McElroy and Mary Leydon (Project coordinators) and the artists, whilst Coillte Forest Manager Paul Murray and forest contractor Noel Gilgunn proved teamwork certainly make time fly! Coillte are proud to have been a part of this unique and worthwhile project, and wish the Lough MacNean Sculpture Trail Committee continued success.
© 2006 Coillte
