Delivering West Mayo convent project a priority for new Cathaoirleach Flynn

THE new Cathaoirleach of the Westport/Belmullet Municipal District has called for everything to be done to get the convent project in West Mayo over the line following concerns the project is in doubt.

Fine Gael councillor Peter Flynn was elected as the new Cathaoirleach of the Westport/Belmullet Municipal District at yesterday's annual general meeting and outlined that the delivery of the Westport convent project will be one of his main priorities.

The regeneration of the former Convent of Mercy building in Westport was expected to cost in the region of €13 million but there are growing fears that the real figure could be double that leading to concerns the project will be delayed.

Critical stage

“We are hitting a critical stage and the next two weeks will determine in my view if this project will live or die. The word that has come back in the last couple of weeks has not been positive and it is very worrying. I hope my first official duty is not to confirm that the project is dead. A local priest a couple of years ago called it a monument of neglect and a public disgrace and in fairness his description at the time was very apt and I hope that later this year we are looking at machinery in there and not looking at more years of neglect. In my view if the convent doesn't happen now it will never happen,” he said.

The regeneration of the former Convent of Mercy building in Westport will see the development of a new library, council offices, community rooms and social services headquarters while permission has also been granted for 18 'Age Friendly' apartments in the old church and sacristy.

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Cllr Flynn added that his other priorities for the coming year were a footpath along the Lodge Road to encourage the development of housing at Monamore and the delivery of greenway projects around the region.

“I think the whole greenway topic is going to come to a head over the next 12 months. I do think we are at a crossroads to determine if TII will really invest millions in this county to deliver greenways across this county or is it a case that TII will pull out completely. I hope it is not the latter and we can find a resolution and compromise in the delivery of greenways. To me it is most important that Mayo is to the fore in terms of development and we can find a way to ensure this greenway network stretches right around the county and Mayo becomes famous for greenways,” he added.

This was the first time that Cllr Flynn was elected chair of the Westport/Belmullet Municipal District since he was first elected to Mayo County Council in 2009.

The Westport native was proposed by his party colleague Gerry Coyle and seconded by Fianna Fáil councillor Brendan Mulroy.

Tributes

Cllr Flynn succeeded Belmullet-based councillor Seán Carey as the Cathaoirleach and tributes were paid to the Fianna Fáil councillor for the way he chaired meetings in a fair manner.

The Westport/Belmullet Municipal District is geographically the largest in Mayo and Cllr Flynn said that he took great pride in being elected and thanked his fellow councillors for their support.

“We do have our different views but the one thing we all have in common is we all speak our minds and ultimately the best interests of our municipal district and county at heart,” he said.

Independent councillor John O'Malley was elected as the leas-Cathaoirleach of the municipal district after he was nominated by Independent Ireland councillor Chris Maxwell and seconded by Cllr Mulroy.

The Carrowholly-based councillor thanked his colleagues for the nomination saying he was 'shocked and surprised' by the nomination but was delighted to accept and would do what he had to do over the coming year.