Longford Councillors look to Mayo for progress on Connolly Barracks

Longford County Council members are to travel to Ballina to discuss how the Mayo town successfully redeveloped their former army barracks to a business hub.

At the January County Council meeting Councillor Seamus Butler tabled a motion calling on the Executive to arrange a visit to the new Innovation Quarter in the former Ballina Military Barracks.

Cllr Butler said that such a meeting with the team that oversaw and delivered the project could inform the local authority on means of delivering a strategy for the Camlin Quarter.

The Fianna Fáil elected representative's call came as a substantial upgrade at Ballina Military Barracks in Mayo was completed. That €8 million project saw the redevelopment of the former army barracks in Ballina, to create a business hub.

“It's a much smaller scale to Connolly Barracks, but it's completed and is ready to open,” Cllr Butler told the meeting.

He continued: “We must be struggling somewhere, perhaps with the Department. Time is running out as far as I am concerned. We are starting to knock on doors and we don't have answers for this. We are going out canvassing with one arm as long as the other.”

Cllr Butler concluded by saying: “Anything that can push this project to getting started in some shape or form is an absolute. It's not just something that might happen, it has to happen.”

The proposal was seconded by Cllr Uruemu Adejinmi, who said: “Anything we can do as a council to support and encourage this project must be followed through on.”

Supporting the motion, Cllr Gerry Warnock added: “We have had this site in our ownership since 2013. It's a long time on the boil. So much could happen there. I know a significant amount of money will have to be spent in the area, but something needs to be done with it.”

Cllr Peggy Nolan said there was a degree of frustration in the town at the lack of progress on the development of Connolly Barracks: “So many projects were almost over the line, but just fell at the last hurdle. It's time we looked at something community led that will open up that part of the town.”

Cathaoirleach Colm Murray said a Corporate Policy Group will arrange a trip for any member of the local authority who wishes to travel to Ballina to discuss how the Mayo town progressed their project.