Civic reception to celebrate legacy of Castlebar Community Development Association
A COMMUNITY development initiative started in the 1980s has yielded a payout to local projects in Castlebar of over €1 million.
The recipients include the new swimming pool, which was awarded €400,000, and the new Music West HQ that was officially opened last weekend, funded to the tune of €175,000.
A proposal from Councillor Ger Deere that Castlebar Community Development Association be accorded a civic reception to celebrate its legacy was supported at a local municipal district meeting.
Castlebar Community Development Association was established in 1985 as a result of an initiative by Paddy McGuinness, then chairman of Castlebar Urban District Council, after the town was hit by the closure of the bacon factory and Grumbaccher Brushes, followed by an announcement of the impending closure of Travenol.
An ambitious plan to attract industry together with astute use of job creation schemes quickly brought significant results.
The association acquired a disused premises from the new owners of the then closed bacon factory and transformed it into an 10-unit enterprise centre. After it outlived its original purpose, a decision was made to sell the property and proceeds have been given back to the community.
In total, €1,132,000 has been paid out: Hurling on the Mall €2,000; CRCfm €57,000; Parish Resource Centre €5,000; Mayo Cancer Support Association €20,000; Castlebar Social Services €50,000; St. Anthony’s School €25,000; Castlebar Youth Exchange Group €3,000; Mosaic €215,000; Castlebar Town Band (purchase of band room) €175,000; Mayo County Council (purchase of Post Office for youth centre) €80,000; GMIT (contribution to provision of €11.5m. facilities) €400,000.
Councillor Deere said the development association has been forgotten about.
They did so much for job creation in the town. And, but for them, the pool would not be in place, or other projects, he said.
His proposal to accord a civic reception for Paddy McGuinness and the CCDA was seconded by Councillor Cyril Burke.