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A public meeting will be held in St Nathy’s College Hall, Ballaghaderreen, this Thursday, November 10th to debate how a €440,000 community fund should be used to benefit the locality.
The money was raised by the people of Ballaghaderreen over the past 30 year and had originally been earmarked for a Swimming Pool. In addition, the community was allocated €500,000 in April of this year by the then Minister for Sport Michael Ring for a “dry sports” community project. The grant was awarded after Roscommon County Council withdrew, voluntarily, from the Local Authority swimming pool programme. The project to be funded, must be approved by both Roscommon County Council and the local Community.
Over recent weeks members of the public have been given the opportunity to submit ideas on how they feel the money would best benefit the town. 12 formal proposals were submitted before last Friday’s closing date and among them are:
A Community Centre
The proposal would see a Committee taking over the running and management of St Nathy’s College Hall and the construction of an extension to the building, which would include a Stage, Kitchen, Smaller Meeting Rooms. An additional feature would see the construction of a 400m running track adjacent to the facility.
Ballaghaderreen Tennis Club has also proposed a Multi-Purpose Indoor Sports and Community Centre that would cater for a wide range of sports and social activities for all age groups
Donation to Kilmovee Swimming Pool
The Committee of Kilmovee Swimming Pool, an indoor heated pool which opens annually during July and August has asked would the fund consider donating some money which would enable them to complete upgrades and open for longer each year.
A Greenway
A proposal to transform the old Railway Line from Ballaghaderreen to Kilfree into a Community Greenway for use by walkers, runners etc.
Attract and invest in a Business
A Company would be formed in Ballaghaderreen with the purpose of attracting and investing in a business with potential for growth. It is proposed an an international campaign be mounted and that all the people who donated to the Swimming Pool Fund would be shareholders in the new joint venture. A clause in the proposal would mean that all employees would have to live in the town or within a 5 mile radius.
These two projects would be eligible to receive the Government funding referred to above.
Submissions have also been made by Little Oak Gym Club, Ballaghaderreen Community Park, Ballaghaderreen Community Games and Ballaghaderreen FC and a number of private individuals.