Major funding boost for south Mayo arts and amenity centre

A Mayo TD has confirmed that €278,513 in additional funding has been approved to Ballinrobe Community Arts and Amenity Centre from the Department of Rural and Community Development.

Deputy Michael Ring stated: "This additional funding brings the total funding approved by the Department of Rural and Community Development to €4,873,113.

“This is tremendous news for all involved with Ballinrobe Community Arts and Amenity Centre.

"This additional funding cements the future of this wonderful project as work can now commence”.

Deputy Ring continued: “This is a brilliant project for Ballinrobe.

"Its benefits will be very wide ranging both for the immediate Ballinrobe community and beyond.

"This project is being led by South West Mayo Development.

"It will see the complete regeneration of the former Valkenburg Complex (which dates back to the 1820s) into a community facility, cultural and performance space”.

"Every person involved in this project has played a pivotal role in getting this project to this stage.

"They had the strong backing of the local community and it will be wonderful to see this project coming to fruition. Councillor Michael Burke has worked tirelessly with me on this project”.

“I have been a strong advocate of this project from my tenure as Minister for Rural and Community Development to the present time and I personally am delighted to see this project getting the recognition it deserves.

"It will be wonderful to see this new community amenity taking pride of place in the centre of Ballinrobe town.

“I look forward to watching this project commence and come to life."