Quay community centre will provide ‘hub’ for all ages

Quay community centre will provide ‘hub’ for all ages

Áine Ryan

WITH its long history, and large population, the Quay area of Westport is ‘a community within itself’. That is the view of Fine Gael Cllr Myles Staunton who recently told The Mayo News that the new state-of-the-art community centre, due to be completed later this year, would provide a one-stop-shop for this vibrant community.
He said that its location – adjacent to the Greenway and near St Colmcille’s NS –  meant it could be a focal point for the children of the area.  
Cllr Staunton was speaking at a Quay Community Project meeting attended by representatives of different resident associations, town council officials, a representative from the Family Resource Centre as well as the Cathaoirleach of Westport Town Council, Cllr Ollie Gannon.
Echoing Cllr Staunton’s viewpoint, Ms Anne Moore, Town Clerk, said: “This project is about making a centre for the Quay community, a hub that is accessible to all ages. It is also about attracting people from various parts of the Quay.”
Meanwhile, John Doherty, a Community Development Worker with the Family Resource Centre, said its role in various community initiatives at the Quay was primarily focussed on ‘generating activity’ among all age groups.
“There is a transient community, some of whom are not that active or involved as well as a community with historic links to the area. A comprehensive survey we conducted some time ago the need for a community centre was at the top of the list,” said John Doherty.
“The success of the various projects in which we have been involved shows that the proposed centre will not be a white elephant. To date we have developed a community garden, ran an affordable Summer Programme for young people aged five to 15. We also run youth activities right throughout the year and have had a lot of support from parents, many of whom have volunteered to help. We have also run an annual Day Trip for over-55s,” he said.
Mr Doherty said the committee will contact all residents about their priorities for the centre in the coming weeks.
Speaking also Cathaoirleach Ollie Gannon said: “The Quay itself is vast and it makes sense to have a centre for such a highly-populated area that is both multi-purpose and caters for all age groups”.
The project, which will cost €700,000 was funded from the Capital Budget of Westport Town Council.
“After the last urban elections in 2009 Myles and myself were nominated to sit on this committee to help drive the project. All the councillors accepted the need for the development of this new centre at the Quay,” Cllr Gannon said.