FAMILIES MOVE OUT OF CAR PARK AFTER 40 YEARS
McGinleys M bid farewell to home
WHILE they had been served with orders to leave by the County Council, the departure by the McGinley families on Wednesday evening last was still somewhat of a surprise. It was after-all, their home for the past 40 years and their leaving marked the end of an era for them.
It was a cold evening with rain lashing down as the McGinley families hitched up their caravans, moving one by one over the space of a couple of hours.
There were tears and upset from some family members. “It has many memories for me,” an emotional Barney McGinley stated.
Their presence there was certainly controversial, much was said publicly and privately both by politicians and citizens on the issue but there appeared to be little progress ever made on providing suitable alternative accommodation for the families.
That was, until recent weeks where there were obviously negotiations behind the scenes with the County Council who remained tight-lipped all along on developments. Credit must go to Chief Executive Ciaran Hayes who made the issue a priority and solved what looked to be an impassable situation. He came to Sligo in 2014 and he was always keen to see a resolution of the issue.
But, of course, the council should never have let the situation go on for 40 years without a solution and no politician either should start to claim credit for the outcome. The bottom line is that families were living in a car park unfit for habitation with little or no facilities.
Sligo County Council in a statement said it had been engaged for some time with the families located at Connaughton Road in relation their accommodation needs.
“The Council can confirm that the families have relocated to a recently renovated facility at Alma Terrace, Finisklin. The
Council’s Housing Section will continue to provide the families with the supports required in their new accommodation,” it said. The families had been given a week’s extension to leave and this was due to run out by Thursday morning. The families decided to leave and take up the offer of accommodation at Finisklin, for how long no one is quite sure. It was certainly the view amongst some family members that the Finisklin accommodation would
be short term and that in the New Year they well be offered places at the newly refurbished Ash Lane site. Originally, the Finisklin site was designated as a transient site, for those who are passing through and need a temporary abode.
Just before 6pm on Wednesday evening the last caravan pulled out of the car park, It was all done in a quiet and dignified manner. Four generations of the McGinley had called it their home for 40 years.