New community center opens at Westport Quay

Impressive new community centre opens at Westport Quay


Neill O’Neill

WESTPORT’S newest community centre was opened last week, with a huge local turnout present at the purpose-build state-of-the-art facility in Springfield, at the Quay area of the town.
In the heart of the most densely populated area of Westport, the local community there had long been trying to secure such a centre, and last week saw the realisation of their dreams, and the fruit of a lot of hard work being reaped, and it was also revealed that the multi-room, spacious facility, is already being well utilised.
Members of the town council and the town management gathered with Gardaí, local clergy, committee members and a host of people from the locality, to hear Cathaoirleach of the Town council, Cllr Michael McLaughlin, declare the centre officially open. He said the council were delighted that the project had come to fruition.
“This is a facility for the residents at the Quay, young and old, and I encourage all the residents of the area to visit the centre and take part in the numerous activities already taking place here,” he said, acknowledging the work of community development workers Rita McNally and John Doherty, the contractors Mountain View Securities, project architects Geeta Keena and Noelle Angley, Mark Forbes the clerk of works on the project, and the great enthusiasm and spirit shown by the dedicated local residents committee who had worked so hard to ensure the project became a reality.
These, in particular, included Nancy McNally, Julie Burns, Donie Quirke, Willie Kelly and Maggie Browne, as well as Jane King and David Le Masney, who served on the committee in the early stages of the project.
Paula Cannon, the Chairperson of Westport Family Resource Centre, outlined that the centre has been a long time in the making, and spoke of a survey of residents in 2006 which outlined the need and desire for such a facility. She spoke of the development between the Quay Residents’ Association, Westport Town Council, South West Mayo Development Company and Westport Family and Community Resource Centre.
On behalf of the Quay community and centre committee, local resident Donie Quirke said that with many houses, a school and other developments springing up in the area year after year, the need for the centre had become very apparent, and we ‘never took no for an answer’.
“We have always had a strong community spirit but lacked a community centre, well not anymore,” he exclaimed. “This building is a result of real cooperation and was a labour of love for all concerned, and I welcome you here on this auspicious occasion.”
He also thanked the various stakeholders, and added that principal of the Quay national school, John Meaney and Town Clerk, Ann Moore, were also in need of particular praise, along with Mike Satunton and Cllr Ollie Gannon.
Before the plaque to commemorate the occasion was unveiled by Cllr McLaughlin and local children began their musical performance, Town Manager Martin Keating addressed the crowd and spoke of the long interaction between the town council and the quay community on various projects.
“This centre was a long time in the planning, but it was well worth the wait and the community can be proud of what is an important piece of social infrastructure, and will provide new opportunities for learning, entertainment, activity and social interaction,” he stated.