Rosegreen History

Rosegreen (Faiche Ro) and its surrounding towns lands has long been synonymous with community activity. Generations past cared for family, neighbour and friend. The Village reflects a lively rural setting comprising Church, School, Grocery, Pub, Family run Businesses, Community Hall and Sports field together with numerous family homes.

In 1970, Charles W. Engelhard Jr. (1917-1971), a wealthy American who controlled an international mining and metals conglomerate and was a major owner in thoroughbred horse racing, and his wife, Mrs Jane Mannheimer Engelhard presented a hall and field to the Community of Rosegreen. “Nijinsky Park” named after the famous Colt identified by M. V. O’Brien in Ontario, Canada in 1968 for purchase by Mr. Engelhard. Nijinsky won honours all around for owner and trainer: Champion Two Year Old in 1969, voted European Horse of the Year 1970 having won the English Triple Crown, numerous other great successes and went on to become a champion sire.

Nijinsky Park became and continues to be the centre of community life in Rosegreen. The property was held in a Trust for the Community the Trustees being the late Rt. Rev. Msgr. William Breen, P.P.,V.G., Dean of Cashel, 1968-1974, Mr. M. Vincent O’Brien, (1917 – 2009) and Mrs. Jacqueline Wittenoom O’Brien who went to her eternal reward this year of 2016. Thus the formation of Rosegreen Development Association Limited in 2016 to manage Nijinsky Park for the Community of Rosegreen.

In 1970, a group of people gathered to form a community organisation to oversee the building and running of the new community hall and development of the field.

Originally called ‘Rosegreen Sports and Leisure Centre’, the committee soon became known as ‘Rosegreen Development Association’, now part of everyday life in the Village and area.

Very active and hard working committees over the years raised funds to develop and expand the Hall and Field. The main fund raising activities were weekly card games (25, 45, 31), local GAA Lotto, Golf Classic, donations from Cashel Lions Club Dances, Cake Sales, Sales of Work, Auctions, Sponsored Walks, Raffles (including for a calf), Household pledges, Parish Draw, Rosegreen Variety Group shows, Rosegreen Players productions and Field Days..

Further very welcome support came by way of generous donations from The Magnier Family of Coolmore Stud, Mr. & Mrs. Aidan O’Brien of Ballydoyle Racing, Ronan Farms and Tipperary Foxhounds..

From the original hall built in 1970, an 18′ Stage was added in 1998 together with Changing Rooms and Showers for Sports participants.

In 2002 a Storage Shed was built behind the now expanded original premises and in 2008, the ‘Martin O’Gorman Suite’ was added to the hall to expand the hospitality space of the premises and named in memory of a very valued young Man of the area.

A commercial kitchen was added in 2011 together with a new Green Room for Drama use, Dressing Rooms and Toilets for Team Players and Referees.
All the extensions were funded by National Lottery Grants, Government Grants and Bank Borrowings which were and continue to be repaid from proceeds of the Annual Field Day and the annual Rosegreen Players Play.

Over the years, activities in the Community Hall include Badminton, Basketball, Indoor Soccer, Card Games, Irish Dancing, Keep Fit Classes, Family Parties, Dances, American Tea Parties, School Concerts, Plays, Communion Parties, Funeral Gatherings, multiple Training Courses, Meetings etc..

The history of Rosegreen Development Association has not always been and is not about the Community Hall and Field alone…

Rosegreen Development Association Committees have always taken care of the Village and surrounding areas. They joined Rosegreen in Tidy Towns in 1998, and Committee members planted trees and flowers and cut grass in public areas and increased marks year on year. They started a campaign for traffic calming measures through the village, a campaign that continues today. They won public lighting for all the approach roads to the Village and improved footpaths and fought for improved Water Pressure. A major contribution to the Village is the improvements made to the Graveyard over the last twenty years which won County Council ‘Tidy Burial Grounds Awards’. Participation in Cashel’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade began in 2000 and success ensued many years since.

Local Heroes are celebrated and honoured. Youth are encouraged to participate in Community events and to look out for each other. Senior Citizens of the area are celebrated and entertained at annual lunches and dinner dances.

Support is provided to local Meals on Wheels group, Chernobyl Children’s Fund, Scoil Chormaic and Scoil Aonghusa, Cancer Care Group/Daffodil Day, Crumlin Children’s Hospital, Lourdes Fund.

Future plans of Rosegreen Development Association Limited include the progressing of major five year development plan for community field and hall to include a Walkway around the field perimeter, a children’s playground, a Men’s Shed, visually improved entrance to grounds, and on goes the story….

The story of Rosegreen success is due to all the volunteers over the past half century and even further back who have had community at the heart of their being and long may that success story continue – thank you for volunteering.