Galbally celebrates CLÁR funding with big plans for 2024
Galbally Community Council have been granted almost €30,000 in CLÁR funding for outdoor equipment, in an announcement that was made last Friday by the Department of Rural and Community Development.
Community council chairman, Tom Blackburn, welcomed the news and following a meeting on Monday night this week, said that once they had received full confirmation of the grant of €29,292, they would proceed with their plans.
The five pieces of equipment are to be placed in the community field and will join another new feature, a bench in memory of Canon Talbot. Also to be located at the community field, it has been crafted by the talented lads in the Men’s Shed.
Reporting that the community council had had a ‘really good turnout for their meeting’ on Monday, Mr Blackburn went on to say that he appreciated the effort, considering such cold weather! He went on to thank local councillor, Eddie Ryan, for ‘all his hard work’ in securing the grant.
COMMUNITY NEWS
The chairman went on to thank Cllr Ryan for pursuing the new footpaths which have been very recently replaced in the area of the church yard, a project which has come in at a cost of about €30,000. The council have also contacted the relevant parties in order to get the lightbulbs which have blown around the village replaced.
Finally, Galbally is looking forward to a ‘huge event’ this year, as the village will celebrate the centenary year of the world record made by local athlete, Jim Fahey in 1924 in Chicago. Jim, a long-jumper, is publicly memorialised on the village’s wall of fame. Further details are to follow on the special celebrations later in the year.
WEST WATERFORD
In west Waterford, Ballysaggart received one of the largest local allocations with a sum of €45,000 being made available to the Community Development Group for the renovation project at the old schoolhouse.
Now known as Ballysaggart Community Centre, the old schoolhouse is undergoing major redevelopment to include a new entryway area, ladies, gents and disabled toilets, a new kitchen, cloakroom and boilerhouse as well as re-roofing of the entire building.
Michael J Walsh, chairperson of Ballysaggart Community Development Company, welcomed the funding towards the facility, which is at the heart of the west Waterford community.
“I got a phone call to say that we were successful in our CLÁR application and when I got that call, I danced around the kitchen. When you’re trying to do something in a community and funding is a part of the plans, it’s not a hand-out, it’s a help-up.
“Ballysaggart is lucky to be in the CLÁR area. To get that injection to renovate this project, it will go a long way in doing what we’re doing today. We very much appreciate that,” Mr Walsh said.
Elsewhere in the west Waterford region, €50,000 has been allocated to KGK (Knockanore, Glendine & Kilwatermoy) Community Development for a walkway development.
Cappoquin were also successful in their funding application, with the Cappoquin Community Development Company CLG allocated €21,850 towards the replacement of an existing heating system in the hall/theatre in Cappoquin Community Centre.
Minister for Mental Health & Older People, Mary Butler TD, said that she was ‘delighted’ to see such funding allocated towards community projects in Waterford.
“CLÁR is a targeted investment programme for rural areas that aims to provide funding for small infrastructural projects. The response from community organisations in Waterford has been very encouraging, as is evidenced by the diverse range and variety of successful projects under this tranche of funding.
“The recent Census results show that there are now more people living and working in rural Ireland than ever before. This is hugely positive. The funding announced will help to support communities in Waterford to develop facilities for residents and families to enjoy.
“I want to congratulate all of the successful applicants in Waterford for the stellar work they have undertaken on behalf of their communities to secure funding for projects in their locality. We are fortunate to have such active groups in Waterford striving to make our rural communities even more attractive places to live, work and raise a family,” Minister Butler said.