Community anger over withdrawal of Clár funds for car park upgrade plan
A Mayo parish is deeply disappointed after receiving notification that CLÁR 2025 funding for upgrading works on a car park has been withdrawn.
This news has been met with shock and dismay by Ballintubber Abbey Trust and by the wider community.
The Celtic Furrow car park is an integral piece of community infrastructure and is in daily use by people of all ages.
Most critically, it serves as a designated drop-off and pick-up point for secondary school children travelling by bus, and in its current gravel condition it is increasingly unsafe, particularly in wet weather and during busy periods.
Mayo County Council submitted 15 projects plus one Gaeltacht project (16 in total) under CLÁR 2025.
Of these, 10 projects (nine plus one Gaeltacht) were approved.
This reflects the national pattern, where the maximum number of projects approved per county was 10.
Following receipt of the decision, Ballintubber Community Trust sought clarification from the department.
It was advised that, due to budgetary constraints, projects were approved based on eligibility for CLÁR funding and the priority ranking applied by Mayo County Council.
The department has further confirmed that there will be no additional funding announcements under CLÁR 2025.
The impact of this decision is significant for Ballintubber as the Celtic Furrow car park supports the following:
Ballintubber Abbey Trust offices, the spiritual and historical anchor of the village
The newly opened Crave at the Cottage coffee shop, used daily by families, elderly residents, and visitors.
Ballintubber Community Council meetings and events in the Scióbal
The Celtic Furrow Heritage Site and community garden, due to reopen shortly following restoration works
A bus collection and drop-off point for local secondary school students, many waiting on-site morning and afternoon
Children travelling to the BECKS swimming programme each Saturday from Ballintubber, Errew, Clogher, and Killawalla
AA group meetings, held weekly, providing essential support services in a discreet and accessible setting
A spokesperson stated: "Given the scale and diversity of use, the current condition of the car park presents clear safety and accessibility risks, particularly for children, older people, wheelchair users, and parents with buggies.
"We understand that CLÁR 2026 is expected to be announced in Quarter 1 of 2026, and we intend to re-submit this project at that time.
"However, we are extremely concerned that the community must continue to rely on an unsafe and unsuitable facility in the interim."
When contacted, Councillor Michael Kilcoyne said he will be raising the matter at the earliest opportunity.
"I’m appalled by this decision and I want it reversed immediately," he added.