The town is flourishing

It has been a busy year for Cllr Trevor Smith. The Fine Gael representative concluded his term as Cathaoirleach of the Ballyjamesduff Municipal District recently, and during his time in the office, his home town has flourished.

“I am just after finishing up my year as Cathaoirleach,” Cllr Smith told the Celt. “I was proud to be appointed to that position. I was particularly humbled to be the first person from Ballyjamesduff to be appointed to the position, and to be able to hold our meetings in the Old Courthouse.”

He spoke of the investment in infrastructure and the work of the Ballyjamesduff Community Council who, in conjunction with Cavan County Council, have been busy on a number of projects for the town.

“So much has been achieved in the last 12 months. I am delighted that we saw progress at the new Ballyjamesduff Fire Station and on Derrylea Bridge,” the councillor said.

“Since the reopening after Covid there were lots more things happening,” Cllr Smith pointed out. The Derrylea Bridge in Ballyjamesduff is undergoing a state-of-the-art revamp.

Cllr Smith said it is most pleasing much of the work on the bridge, a two-span masonry arch structure over the Claddagh River, is being undertaken by local contractors.

As Cathaoirleach of Ballyjamesduff Municipal District, Cllr Smith presided over the turning of the sod on the €1.5 million project on Ballyjamesduff Fire station at Rassan Road: “This will make a huge difference to the firemen in the station who were operating in poor conditions.”

He also says community engagement is a factor in the vibrancy of the town: “Our town has so much going for it. If you look at projects like the public tennis courts and community initiatives like the outdoor cinema and the Nun’s Walk, you see just how spirited a community we are. Look at the uptake of the street painting scheme and you see how it has brightened up Ballyjamesduff.”

Cllr Smith says there is more on the horizon: “There’s one thing that I would like to have seen completed in my time as Cathaoirleach, that is the re-opening of the playground. I am disappointed it has been closed for so long, it was out of the county council’s hands, funding was approved, it was just a supply issue, however I’m happy to see contractors starting upgrade work this week and look forward to the re-opening in the next few weeks.”

Cllr Smith expressed his gratitude for the support the people of the Ballyjamesduff municipal area gave to him, particularly over the last 12 months.