“We moved in just in time for the Toy Show” - Mayo families' delight

BABY Cian Monaghan-Regan will take his first steps in Cross West. The four month old is just one of the more than dozen children to move into Cross West development with their families and come the summer time, the grass area in front of the houses will no doubt become the football pitch and main play area for the kids.

The €2.6 million Mayo County Council development in Cross West gives eight families a new home and base. The sense of community is already strong as Cian’s mother Rebecca Monaghan is joined by her neighbour Gillian McTigue, who was previously her neighbour in Ballinrobe too.

Gillian tells The Mayo News that the official opening is an emotional day and “we’re absolutely delighted to be here and just really lucky. It’s a brand new house and a fresh new start.”

She and her daughter, Kaylee, moved into one of the eight houses on December 5, “just in time for the Toy Show”, she says smiling.

READ MORE: "Major boost" - Mayo town set for 35 new affordable homes with €2.6m housing announcement

Rural communities

THE development was officially opened by the Minister for Rural and Community Development, Dara Calleary.

Highlighting the importance of families being able to live in rural communities, he told The Mayo News that seeing a boy coming home from school showed what it was all about.

The Mayo Minister said that “revitalising our rural villages and giving people the chance to put down further routes and expand their routes here as well.”

“This is here in the rural village. It shows that we can invest in housing here too. As we were doing the opening, a young lad walking home from school kind of brought home that this is the day to day life that we want here. We want to give people the opportunities to do that.”

Minister for Social Protection & Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht Dara Calleary, TD, carried out the official opening of the Cross West Housing Development on Friday afternoon. In attendance also were Alan Dillon, TD, Minister of State for Employment, Small Business and Retail; Paul Lawless, TD; Cathaoirleach of Mayo County Council, Cllr Sean Carey; councillors Patsy O'Brien, Richard Finn, Damien Ryan, Michael Burke; representatives of contractors Finna Construction, Housing and Architecture staff of Mayo County Council and some residents of Cross West. Pic: Conor McKeown

Speaking of the eight sod turnings he officiated on Friday, the Ballina TD said that it was a ‘fantastic day’ as it represented €47 million worth of investment in housing in Mayo and all of these houses will be on stream by late next year.”

Mayo County Council CEO, Kevin Kelly praised its in-house architects in the Council for delivering high-quality housing and thanked key team members and consultants for their contributions.

He said the council were lucky to have the expertise available within the council resources.

“While large urban schemes often attract more attention, developments like this one are every bit as important. In fact, in rural communities, the impact can be even greater. Eight new homes here - five two-bed houses and three-bed houses represent new families, new energy and renewed confidence in the future of this village,” said Mr Kelly.

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme