On Friday, October 26th, 2018 the annual Kiltimagh Spooky Walk returns. For the last four years the Spooky Walk has been organised by the Kiltimagh Amenity Park (KAP) committee. The Kiltimagh Amenity Park is a non-profit community initiative which is striving to provide an all-inclusive Amenity Park for all members of the Kiltimagh Community. The spooky festivities will be taking place at the Museum Sculpture Park, Kiltimagh from 6.30 pm to 8pm .This is a free event. It is open to anyone who would like to get into the Halloween spirit by adding to the horrors and dressing up. This year promises to be even more spooky and thrilling than ever; with a real life haunted train, performances, music, traditional halloween festive games and a chance to win some fantastic prizes.
Commenting on the reasons behind starting the Spooky Walk back in 2014 Chairperson Caroline McNicholas explains: “The Spooky walk was part of an initiative to raise awareness for the need for an Amenity Park in our town. We wanted to highlight the number of families, groups and various individuals who reside in this vibrant place. We wanted to show that we were far from a sleepy dying town but rather a place full of character, life and vibrancy. It was to show that once you build a place or organise an event for people to gather they will come. The Amenity Park is a long overdue project and is an essential necessity to enhance the quality of life for all within the Kiltimagh community and future prosperity of businesses in the town. The park would not only benefit the members of the Kiltimagh Community but would be an attraction for others from neighbouring towns to visit Kiltimagh.”
The Kiltimagh Amenity Park Committee are working closely with Mayo County Council to deliver on this worthy project. The committee’s prime objective is to raise the required finances to purchase the six acre centrally located site. The land purchase negotiations and are in a position to secure the purchase of the site. But in order to complete the purchase, the committee must raise €150,000. Once the financial funds have been raised, the development of the park can then be handed over to Mayo County Council, who will then bring the project to fruition.
Competition Time
On the night of the Spooky Walk a fundraising SPOOKY SELFIE competition will be held to raise much needed funds for the Amenity Park. Thanks to Kiltimagh Credit Union, the Historical Society and The Park Hotel Kiltimagh a prize for a family meal to the value of €150 will be up for grabs. To enter this fantastic photo competition all you have to do is enter your selfie, into a draw for €3 per entry. A photographer will be available on the night to take the selfie shots. One lucky winner will be drawn on Wednesday, 31st October. As a added bonus you can pick up your free print from Heneghans Pharmacy Kiltimagh! To encourage as many grown ups to dress up in Halloween Fancy dress there will also be a competition for the “Best Dressed Family” who will be in with a chance of winning a €50 cash prize thanks to Design West in Kiltimagh.
Caroline continued “ In order for us to raise the much needed funds to purchase the desired site for the Amenity Park we must dig deep and come together to achieve this dream. It is within our reach. We did not want to make the Spooky Walk a paid for event as we know the financial pressures people are under and we wanted it to remain open to all. This is the ethos behind the the Amenity Park; a place where people can go without thinking of how much it will cost. However we still need to raise the money and we hope that the Selfie Competition will facilitate this and there will also be collection buckets at the event. Every cent will count and will contribute to our future park. We thank everyone sincerely who has supported this project so far.”
As part of an ongoing fundraising initiative in association with Kiltimagh Credit Union members of the community are invited to become apart of a permanent legacy wall in the Amenity Park. The permanent wall will be erected in the Kiltimagh Amenity Park as a legacy to all the individuals and businesses that made donations towards establishing the community park. Anyone who would like to be apart of this legacy can buy a tile via the Credit Union Saving Scheme. The €100 donation can be made in one payment or can be spread over a number of payments. As an immediate acknowledgment to this financial support a virtual wall will be created on our website to include the names of all donors. All other donations can be made online via www.ifundraise.ie/4244_kiltimagh-amenity-park.html or on facebook.com/KAPinhand.
