Former beach tea house could become water safety home

FUNDING of half a million euro could turn a disused former tea house near the beach in Rosses Point into a headquarters for the local Irish Water Safety Association.

Representatives from the body, including former councillor Daniel McGarrigle outlined the ambitious plans for the building to a meeting of Sligo Municipal District on Monday.

Mr McGarrigle, along with John McShane said they would like to establish a permanent base for the association in Sligo at Rosses Point and would use it to store equipment and as a meeting place.

It was pointed out that a very successful water safety week was held every year in Enniscrone and something similar could be done in Rosses Point at the building.

A number of these type of facilities were being established around the country, said Mr McShane.

Mr McGarrigle said the group would be looking to LEADER as a major source of the €480,000 needed to refurbish the building which could also be leased to other groups who may wish to use it such as triathlon clubs.

Funding could also be raise through fund raising initiatives, the Irish Water Safety Association and Sligo Tourism.

Support for the plan came from the Mayor, Cllr Rosaleen O’Grady, Cllr Tom MacSharry, Cllr Sinead Maguire and Cllr Marie Casserly.

Chief Executive Ciaran Hayes described the building a bit of a blot on the landscape at present and he saw a huge benefit in teasing out a proposal for the site