At a presentation ceremony which took place at the start of the month in Aras an Chontae, Castlebar, the members of the Castlebar Community Development Association presented a cheque for €400,000 to Mayo County Council as the community contribution towards the National Outdoor Pursuits Centre which is being constructed by Mayo County Council at Lough Lannagh, Castlebar. The outdoor pursuits centre which includes a state of the art swimming pool is the result of a partnership between Mayo County Council and the Galway Mayo Institute of Technology.
While accepting the cheque on behalf of Mayo County Council, the chief executive, Mr Peter Hynes, stated that this contribution on behalf of the community was very welcome indeed. He observed that it was unusual to receive a community contribution of this magnitude and the commitment which it demonstrates proves that the project will be a total success. Mayo County Council is working with communities throughout the county and this project is an example of what can be achieved when the various statutory bodies and the community work together.
Speaking at the presentation of a cheque for €400,000 to Mayo County Council towards the cost of the building of a new swimming pool and outdoor facilities around the GMIT in Castlebar, Paddy McGuinness of the Castlebar Community Development Association called on the people of Castlebar to pull together to bring more development to the town. “We need to balance the temptation to highlight negativity by acknowledging the many positives about our town. We need to join with and harness the talents, skills, and influence of our chamber of commerce, our retailers, our trade unions, our various media platforms, our religious leaders, our public officials, and our national politicians in a drive to bring essential improvements to our town. We can make Castlebar an even better place, but, we will not do it by concentrating on the negatives. The presentation of this substantial cheque today to such a wonderful project is further proof of what can be achieved through positivity and a willingness ‘to light a candle rather than curse the dark’.”
In welcoming the project, Councillor Michael Holmes, Cathaoirleach of Mayo County Council, stated that the donation of the Castlebar Community Development Association was of major significance and has resulted from many hours of hard labour by Paddy McGuinness and all of his colleagues in the Castlebar Community Development Association.
