Athlone Town Mayor, Cllr Aengus O’Rourke, was a recent attendee at the inaugural Marine View residents’ association community meeting.
“I was delighted to be invited by the residents of Marine View in Athlone to attend the first meeting of their newly formed residents’ association, as their direct link with the local Municipal District.
“There is much happening at Marine View and I am pleased to have been of some assistance to the residents. The flood relief work is progressing well and when this is finished I will ensure that the area is reinstated to a high standard.
“We have also witnessed the development of a new community garden on a vacant corner site which will provide a place of rest and relaxation for the residents in the area, and is also a lovely place for the younger children to play safely outdoors.
“Recently, the Litter Warden, Lorraine Derwin, arranged for new gates to be installed at the back laneways to deter illegal dumping in the area and these have worked to great affect, so much appreciation is afforded to Lorraine for that very worthwhile initiative.
“I was also pleased to secure the necessary funding at budget time to have the elderly persons houses cleaned and repaired in Marine View. I ensured necessary funds were ring-fenced for this purpose at our annual budget meeting in Mullingar in December and this work will be carried during the summer months”.
“Marine View is a beautiful place in which to live, it is so convenient to town, is located on the banks of the river Shannon and really has so much to offer.
“With a residents’ association now in place, it puts us in a good position to avail of further funding opportunities in the future so we can undertake even more interesting enhancement and improvement projects in the years ahead,” the Town Mayor asserted.
Mayor Supports Community Centre Fundraising Initiative
Meanwhile, Cllr O’Rourke, has afforded his support to a fundraising initiative presently being conducted by the management, staff and volunteers at St Kieran’s Community Centre.
“I have always admired the work carried out by the management, staff and volunteers at St. Kieran’s Community Centre in Tormey Villas. The centre has always been a hive of activity for young and old in the area, but like so many voluntary organisations, when the pandemic hit, they were robbed of the fundraising and income opportunities they depended on so much to survive.
“Management quickly looked at other opportunities to raise essential finance because the bills needed to be paid and one of those ideas was the hosting of a 50:50 draw. Now in its third week the draw is growing in popularity with last weeks top prize amounting to €500 which was won by popular local man Noel Lackey Snr.
“The only expense to the centre in running the draw is the actual printing of the 50:50 tickets. So, in order to help the initiative along, and to leave the initiative free from costs, I was happy to sponsor the printing of the first month’s tickets. I met with the management team recently and have confirmed to them that I am happy to sponsor the ticket printing for the rest of this year.
“Hopefully, at that stage, services will have returned and the new normality will be taking shape. I am delighted for all concerned that the draw is going so well for the centre and if you haven’t yet bought your tickets for next week’s draw, Alfie Wykes is the man to whom to talk!,” Cllr O’Rourke concluded.
The management and board of St Kieran’s Community Centre have expressed their gratitude to the Town Mayor for his sponsored support of the fundraising initiative.
“The Management and Board of St Kieran’s Community Centre would like to warmly thank Cllr Aengus O’Rourke for his very kind sponsorship of our fortnightly draw by providing the printed tickets free of charge for the reminder of this year. This draw is vital for the ongoing operation of our centre and Cllr O’Rourke’s sponsorship is a great boost to our efforts,” Georgina O’Neill, Manager St. Kieran’s Community Centre stated.
