In pictures: Delight for Creevy as €650,000 development is announced

A delighted Creevy Activity Hub CLG has announced that it recently received full planning permission for an exciting project to develop a community recreational and sports facility at the rear of Creevy National School in Ballyshannon.

Their plans include the development of a 65m x 40m Astro Pitch with fencing and floodlighting; a new community loop walking/running trail - 400m; a second multi-use games area lined for tennis and basketball; new changing facilities and storage areas; a community garden with picnic area, nature walk; outdoor games area - boules, chess etc - and increased parking facilities. Please click on the arrows to go through the gallery

These facilities will be used by the school during the school day and will be available to the public outside school hours. This very exciting development will cost in the region of €650,000 and it is anticipated that funding will be secured from various Government grants, initiatives and fundraising ventures.

Chairperson Eleanor Rooney of Creevy Hub believes this is an ambitious but very exciting project which will be of enormous benefit to the whole community. 

"The granting of planning permission represents a major step forward,” she said. “Funding is a huge challenge, but we believe the project is a very worthy investment which will benefit current and future generations in Creevy and the wider South Donegal region.

"Our project will be of direct benefit to the 231 pupils and staff of Creevy National School, and to the many local clubs and groups that currently use our facilities outside school hours.

"These groups use our indoor and outdoor facilities to provide coaching in different sports for juveniles and adults locally. We feel that an even greater cohort of community members and even visitors to the area would benefit from our proposed development of an all-weather recreational facility.”

The variety and choice of activities available will be of benefit to the health and wellbeing of all age groups in the community - the school children during the day, preschool children from Kids Cove across the road, teenagers and adults in the many local clubs and societies, together with local walking and gardening groups. On behalf of the Committee, Eleanor wishes to express her gratitude to Rhatigan Architects for their help and support with the project to date. 

Finally, she would like to acknowledge and thank the hard-working committee who generously give their time to ensure that the Creevy Hub development comes to fruition.

The Committee is made up of volunteers from both the local community and the school community - Chairperson: Eleanor Rooney; Secretary: Aoibheann Kelly; Treasurer: Catherine McKee; David McLoone, Philip O'Reilly, Fr. Cathal O'Fearraí, Jamie Timoney and William Doogan.