Castlebar councillors call for government funding to replace tennis dome

EMERGENCY Government funding needs to be provided to Castlebar Tennis Club in order for them to erect a new dome which was destroyed by Storm Isha.

The call was made by Castlebar councillors after the dome, which covers four tennis courts at the Lough Lannagh campus, was ‘blown to smithereens’ by powerful winds during Storm Isha in January.

The structure, which cost a total of €240,000, was used extensively over the winter months as shelter from darkness and inclement weather.

The tennis club has started a fundraising campaign to build a new dome but local councillors said that the Government has to provide the bulk of the costs to rebuild.

Fine Gael councillor Cyril Burke proposed that the Castlebar Municipal District write to the Minister for Sport, Catherine Martin and the junior minister Thomas Byrne asking them to provide the funding.

“It has been a huge tragedy for the tennis club that the dome was demolished in the recent storm. I know they set about fundraising to get it reinstated. They are doing their costings and it comes in somewhere around half a million euro plus,” he outlined.

“There is a great community involved in the tennis club and they are all energised to raise funds for it. I think it is hugely important as a body here that we are seen to play our part and I propose we write to the minister looking for a special fund. There is no way that a club like Castlebar can raise the funds required. It is going to need government funds and I hope we all agree to write to the minister,” he told the monthly meeting of the Castlebar Municipal District.

Cllr Burke was supported by his fellow councillors who praised the community spirit involved in the clean-up of the tennis courts following the storm.

“They have a fantastic club and a fantastic group of people and we as public representatives need to put the pressure on to try to get funding to put the dome up because it is really important to this town and everyone in this town,” said Cllr Donna Sheridan.

The meeting heard that the tennis dome was used by clubs all over Connacht and Cllr Ger Deere that they all brought extra revenue to Castlebar which will be lost if the dome is not replaced.

Fianna Fáil councillor Blackie Gavin also proposed that the municipal district write to Minister Martin and invite her to Castlebar to see the damage for herself.