ARRIVING IN STYLE Castlebar's new Town Mayor, Cllr Eugene McCormack, at Marsh House with his wife Margaret and children Aoife and Conor.
Pic: Tom Campbell
Castlebar Mayor’s vision
Castlebar
Anton McNulty
OUTLINING his vision for the year ahead, the new Mayor of Castlebar, Cllr Eugene McCormack, said the construction of a new state-of-the-art swimming pool and new civic offices are at the top of his agenda.
The Fine Gael councillor was elected unopposed as the new Mayor at the AGM of Castlebar Town Council last week, while his Fine Gael colleague, Cllr Kevin Guthrie, was elected Deputy Mayor. The outgoing Mayor, Cllr Brendan Henaghan, placed the chain around the shoulders of the Islandeady native, with his wife Margaret, son Conor and daughter Aoife, along with friends, present to witness the occasion.
Cllr McCormack, who served as Deputy Mayor for the past year, thanked his family and fellow councillors before outlining his vision for the county town. He said the town was facing enormous challenges, particularly with the projected increase in population likely to reach 16,000 by 2014. He stressed the need for more community spirit in the town, in light of this increase.
The need for a state-of-the-art swimming pool in Castlebar was one of the projects he placed high on his agenda for the coming year, which he hoped would be located near the Lough Lannagh Holiday Village. He proposed the money should be raised through equity on the Town Council-owned Lough Lannagh Holiday Village.
“The Lough Lannagh Holiday Village was built 15 years ago and has increased tourist and economic development in the town. The Town Council owns 30 per cent of the village and will be in a position to sell that portion within the next year. I believe that the money raised from the release of the equity should be put to the construction of a new state-of-the-art swimming pool. This would be a joint venture with the County Council but the Town Council should take the lead in this and exploratory talks should begin as to how to progress this to design stage,” he said.
He also called on the Council to use a site on the newly-purchased tennis club lands to develop new civic offices which he said he felt Castlebar deserves. He also reiterated the need for housing estates to be taken over by the Council and to be vigilant to ensure the contractors are finishing developments to an acceptable standard.
Cllr Henaghan wished Cllr McCormack the best of luck in his role and thanked his fellow Councillors and Town officials for their support in his term as Mayor.
All the councillors present praised Cllr Henaghan for his role as Mayor for the past year and they also wished Cllr McCormack and Cllr Guthrie the best in the year ahead.
