The hurler on the ditch!

Madam editor, Regarding the article re Belturbet bypass and subsequent letter from Ryan Fitzpatrick, Belturbet, in last week's issue, I wish to point out that Ryan Fitzpatrick is not a resident of Belturbet. In his letter he takes me and your reporter to task in my capacity as Mayor of Belturbet. I have been elected to Belturbet Town Council and have served on this body for over 30 years. I have been involved in the following projects for the economic good of Belturbet: 1. The procurement of the state-of-the-art water scheme for the town and extended area. 2. Reopening of Aughalane Bride now known as the George Mitchell Peace Bridge. 3. The procurement of the bypass of Belturbet. I ask if Ryan Fitzpatrick prefer that this major development would not happen? Would it be better to have the M3 entering Belturbet flooded each winter and frozen over with ice cutting off Belturbet for long periods of time, also have the town choked with HGVs night, noon and morning. Would he prefer to a continuation of enumerable accidents, nine of which were fatal. These people are gone to their graves because the old N3 was not fit for purpose. Belturbet BCDA held meetings and at these a swot analysis was carried out to ascertain the strengths and weaknesses of Belturbet and positive action has been and will be taken for the social and economic advancement of Belturbet. I attended all of these. Did Ryan Fitzpatrick attend any of these? The answer is NO. I cannot recall any positive action taken by Mr Fitzpatrick for Belturbet. Ryan Fitzpatrick refers to a development that I am invovled in and this is operating for five and a half years now. This is provided with no investment from the public purse as is the case on other major road development or would he prefer that this was developed by a major international conglomerate rather than local initiative or should nobody be a profit in his own land and be procluded from providing this facility because I am a member of Belturbet Town Council or do I have to flag this up to satisfy a cynical mindset? The Belturbet bypass is the third in a three part development, the first being the Cavan bypass, the second being the reopening the road from Aughalane to the roundabout at Staghall and the third leg in the stool is the Belturbet bypass. I ask would Mr Ryan Fitzpatrick prefer a stool with two legs? On Monday last, April 23, I chaired a special meeting to provide a new library and resource centre for Belturbet and this development will cost in excess of €800,000 and the funding is in place for this marvelous development for Belturbet and is not a product of cynical minds. Finally, I question Ryan Fitzpatrick's contribution to Belturbet - social, economic or cultural. Did he ever employ anybody? The hurler on the ditch attitude of his has made no contribution to any of the above and I do not feel I owe him any explanations. I rest my case. Yours etc, Seamus Fitzpatrick, Creeney, Belturbet