Ireland is renowned for its natural beauty and rich cultural heritage, but aside from the highly marketed tourist destinations, how well known are the hidden gems that exist in some of the relatively unknown parts of this country?
Mote Park is situated just outside Roscommon Town and is primarily a forestry area with evidence of a long inhabited history spanning from the Iron Age (and possibly earlier), through the times of landed estates to its present guise as a residential, farmland and forest amenity area.
A refuge of natural beauty, it is an area that is steeped in history and is home to many species of flora and fauna. But is it now viewed primarily as a forest recreation site and if so, how is to be conserved on land that is by all rights assigned for commercial forestry? Do people value the pieces of architecture that once belonged to Mote Park's former English Landlords and what if anything should be done to preserve them?
"˜Mote Park, a Time and a Place' is a documentary film that looks at its past and present to ponder over its future. Produced by Roscommon based production company, Mimar Media, "˜Mote Park, a Time and a Place' features interviews with some of the major stakeholders of Mote Park, its local residents and those who enjoy this hidden treasure.
The film has the backing and "˜blessings' of Mote Park Conservation Group who worked closely with the producers throughout the production of the documentary. "Mote Park Conservation Group are delighted to be associated with this documentary which we felt captured the Mote Park story from times past to the present day, including all of those aspects of the area such as it's wildlife, it's history, and the people and organisations who have had an influence on the area over the years" says Eilish Feeley representing the group. "The fact that this production was undertaken by Mimar Media who have local knowledge of the area, gives the production an added dimension".
