Community groups in Claremorris and surrounding areas have expressed their disappointment that the social and economic fund which is allocated by the local councillors each year has been pulled.
The €260,000 funding, from which each of the seven electoral areas benefited, was of great assistance to community groups which strove to bring much-needed services to their local areas.
According to Ballyhaunis Councillor John Cribbin, chairman of the Claremorris electoral area committee, a number of groups had commenced putting together their submissions for funding for this year.
While the county manager said he would look at reinstating the fund next year, Cllr Cribbin said he feared that this would not be possible “if we believe everything we hear”. He said: “The news is getting worse from morning to evening and it won’t be back for a few years. It was money well spent.”
Cllr Pat McHugh added that in allocating this funding it was the one time when councillors took off their political jerseys and put on their community jerseys.
Over recent years in the Claremorris electoral area the funding went to groups from Ballyhaunis, Ballindine, Barnacarroll, Claremorris, Mayo Abbey, Knock, Aghamore, and Tooreen.
