Dispute over lights leaves Achill gaming area in the dark

Anton McNulty

A ROW over who should pay the bill for the use of the floodlights in the multi-use gaming area in Achill has resulted in the area being temporarily closed to the public.
The multi-use gaming area (MUGA), located on the grounds of ColΡiste Pobail Acla, has been used by a number of sports organisations since it was officially opened in 2013. The AstroTurf facility, where sports groups can play and train under lights, has been particularly popular during the winter months.
However, in recent weeks, these groups have no longer been able to use the facility at night due to a disagreement between the Mayo Education and Training Board (ETB) and Mayo County Council over who should foot the cost of paying for the electricity for the floodlights.
The lights are currently connected to the electricity meter of ColΡiste Pobail Acla, and as a result the ETB pays the bill for the electricity. The Mayo News has learned that Mayo ETB has informed Mayo County Council that until the local authority comes up with an alternative funding solution, they are no longer willing to turn the lights on.
Achill councillor Paul McNamara has criticised the decision to turn off the lights and called on the ETB to reverse their decision. He said while responsibility for the electricity cost needs to be agreed, the public should not be discommoded as a result.
“The ETB are refusing to turn on the lights until Mayo County Council puts a meter in place to pay for the lights. This is wrong and I am calling on the ETB to turn on the lights and allow the various groups to use it during the winter.
“In fairness to Mayo County Council they are willing to deal with it, but it could be a number of weeks before it is sorted. In the meantime I am asking the ETB to see logic and turn the lights back on,” he said.
“The facility is owned by Mayo County Council and is a facility for both the people of Achill and the students of ColΡiste Pobail Acla. If the ETB had a problem with who pays the bill, they should have come to an arrangement when it first opened, not four years later. It’s not right the community are being now left in the dark over this,” Cllr McNamara added.
The MUGA was developed in partnership with Mayo County Council when funding was provided under the Sports Capital Programme and was officially opened by Minister of State Michael Ring.