The Cill Chomáin Rural Social Scheme

On 29th July 2019 the workers on the Cill Chomáin Rural Social Scheme began to dig out the existing foundation with spades thus removing a substantial quantity of peat. This marked the beginning of the reconstruction of Teachaín a’ Watch.

The original building was constructed according to a specific plan with numbered blocks, each one interconnecting with the other, row after row to culminate in the large five-sided window at the front, which offered uninterrupted views towards the sea. When engineer Jim Mansfield visited the site in July 2020, he compared the shapes of the blocks which were spread out on the ground around the original footprint, with those on the original plans.He suggested marking each one with its corresponding number on the plan.This formed the basis for the building’s reconstruction.

Following in the footsteps of the Coastwatchers, the workers on the Rural Social Scheme walked from the pier at Port a’Chlóidh to their place of work on the headland while the building work was in progress. The community is indebted to Padraig Ó Dochartaigh, Micheál Ó Gearbháin, Paddy Ó Gionnantaigh, Philip Ó Gearbháin and Séamus Ó Máille for their efforts.

Many challenges were met before the project was completed including the other work commitments of the Rural Social Scheme, adverse weather conditions and the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. Over the course of the next few years a detailed logbook was kept to record how the fallen building was gradually restored as an important landmark in our history and on the local landscape.

Ar an 29ú Iúil 2019 thosaigh oibrithe na Scéime Shóisialta Tuaithe Chill Chomáin ag tochailt ar an mbunsraith le spáid, ag baint amach ualach mór phortaigh.  Chuir sé seo tús le ath-thógáil Teachaín a’ Watch.

Tógadh an bunfhoirgneamh de réir phlean sonrach, áit a raibh uimhir ar chuile bhloc, agus iad uilig ag nascadh le chéile, sraith i ndiaidh sraithe ag críochnú le fuinneog mhór cúig thaobh chun tosaigh, a thug radharc oscailte ar an bhfarraige.  Nuair a thug an t-innealtóir Jim Mansfield cuairt ar an suíomh i mí Iúil 2020, rinne sé comparáid idir chruthanna na mbloc a bhí scaipthe ar an talamh thart ar an mbunlorg agus na cruthanna a bhí ar na bunphleananna.  Mhol sé gach ceann díobh a mharcáil de réir a uimhir ar an bplean.  Bhí sé seo mar bhunús d’athchóiriú an fhoirgnimh.

Ag leanúint i gcoiscéimeanna na bhFear Faire, shiúl oibrithe na Scéime Shóisialta Tuaithe ó chéibh Phort a’ Chlóidh go dtí a n-áit oibre ar an gceann tíre, fad agus a bhí an obair thógála ag dul ar aghaidh.  Tá an pobal go mór faoi chomaoin ag Padraig Ó Dochartaigh, Micheál Ó Gearbháin, Paddy Ó Gionnantaigh, Philip Ó Gearbháin, Séamus Ó Máille agus Melvyn Ó Taidhg as ucht a n-iarrachtaí díograiseacha. 

Tugadh aghaidh ar go leor dúshlán sular críochnaíodh an togra lena n-áirítear pleananna oibre eile a bhí faoi chúram na Scéime Sóisialta Tuaithe, drochaimsir agus tionchar na paindéime Covid-19 nuair a cuireadh na hoibreacha uilig ar fionraí.  I gcaitheamh na mblianta coinníodh logleabhar chun taifead a dhéanamh ar an gcaoi a rinneadh athchóiriú ar an bhfoirgneamh mar shainchomhartha tábhachtach inár stair agus sa tírdhreach áitiúil.