Longford's new information group in Ballymahon hosts first meeting for community

Ballymahon Community Information Partnership, a new voluntary group held their first public meeting on Thursday, September 25 last, in Cooney’s Hotel, Main Street and there was a large attendance.

Two local people Ronan O’Ceallaigh and Niall Dowler, started this new voluntary group, to reach out to everyone in the local community, to share with them the infrastructural changes that are being proposed for Ballymahon town.

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This concept, started when Niall and Ronan met with the community noticing that very few of our community were aware of the changes that were taking place, and no knowledge of the exact details of the proposed changes.

“We live in a digital world” says Ronan O’Ceallaigh “where everything is online, and everything is going paperless, our communities across the nation are being left behind, because they don’t have the knowledge where to source key information.”

On the evening, Niall Dowler introduced the meeting, managing proceedings.

Eugene Murphy, former TD and Senator, and current community activist, was the guest Chairperson, who did an outstanding job and showed tremendous support to the group and the local people of Ballymahon.

Rónán presented a very informative presentation, explaining the Part 8 Planning definition, the Part 8 planning process, and showed in detail the current Part 8 Project from the Moygh crossroads to St Matthew’s National School.

Health and Safety were the order of the evening, and huge concerns were conveyed, from the audience to what has been proposed, highlighting the challenges regarding blue light safety vehicular (ambulance and fire brigade) access, should an accident occur, on this stretch of carriageway.

“These are very, very serious concerns, and need to be addressed,” said Ronan.

It was an overall very successful evening.

The intention is to hold monthly public meetings going forward, engage with the public personally, and to keep everyone informed with leaflet drops, on a consistent basis.

“Our plan, is to keep our community informed, of all infrastructural changes that are taking place going forward. We shall support our community,” said Ronan.

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Everyone present shared their contact details, and these contact details will be used to build a “WhatsApp Communication Group” to engage with the community on every level and grow our one on one support with our community.

Ballymahon Community Information Partnership are a Public Participation Network recognised voluntary group.
Their next meeting will be held at the end of October, and the community shall be notified in advance.