Taoiseach and Minister hand over garda stations

Taoiseach and Ministers hand over Garda Stations to communities


Ciara Galvin

THE keys of Tourmakeady Garda Station were officially handed over for community use by An Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Minister of State, Brian Hayes last week.
Local group, Coiste Cultúr Teanga agus Forbartha Thuar Mhic Éadaigh Teo, had submitted a formal proposal to the OPW as part of its Disposal Policy for former Garda Stations. The Coiste is involved in the revitalisation of the Irish language and its members represent most committees and organisations in Tourmakeady and the surrounding area.
At the handover, the Taoiseach said he was delighted that the station was going to become the new home of Coiste Cultúr Teanga and Forbartha Thuar Mhic Éadaigh.  
“From their new base, these organisations will do great work for the Tourmakeady area in promoting tourism and local businesses. I commend them for their successful application to the OPW for the use of the Garda station for the valuable community work that they do and I wish them the best of luck in their new location,” said the Taoiseach.
Minister Hayes also welcomed the handover of the keys to the local community and continued by setting out the future for all such properties, “While our priority is to either sell these sites or to obtain other State uses for them, we will seriously consider proposals that come from community groups with a proven track record in delivering local services in their community.”
Minister Hayes also handed over the keys to Mulranny Garda Station which will be used as a community activities centre.

Handover of Mulranny garda station
MARY Callaghan, vice-chairperson of Mulranny Community Futures welcomed Minister Brian Hayes and Minister Michael Ring to Mulranny on the occasion of the handing over of the former Garda Barracks to the community in Mulranny on February 20.  She commented that she had waited a long time for Minister Ring to visit Mulranny since he joined the DΡil some 20 years ago.
Sean Carolan, PRO explained that the Barracks would act as a centre to work for the community in the areas of sustainable tourism, environment, history and heritage.
The centre would draw together current environmental and trail building projects and facilitate the ongoing research, interpretation and conservation of our natural environment and heritage in terms of an extension to the  Mulranny Loop Walk, short films on Mulranny’s Machair system and uplands, collection of folklore, the Red Grouse and the Old Irish Goat Projects.
The centre will help to attract people to Mulranny to deliver projects, dealing with statutory liaison permissions, landowner agreements and funding applications, local and national communications, selling Mulranny as a location for environmental investment.
Minister Brian Hayes expressed his delight at being in a position to hand over 13 Garda Barracks to communities across the country and was delighted that the building would assist community development in Mulranny.
Minister Michael Ring commented that the community in Mulranny was working hard to establish the area as a tourism destination and that handing over the Barracks was part of the ongoing investment being made in the area.
Mary Callaghan concluded by thanking all involved who helped to make the handover possible, including OPW staff and the local volunteers. She also thanked the local councillors for their ongoing support of developments in the area.
To date 13 garda stations across the country have been handed over for public use.