Great progress on significant projects despite challenges

Tommy Ryan, Chief Executive, Cavan County Council, reflects on a successful 2022...

Greetings to the readers of The Anglo-Celt, I hope you had a peaceful and enjoyable Christmas. As we enter a New Year, now is an opportune time to reflect on another tumultuous year globally, which has presented great challenges at a local level but equally has seen great progress made on a number of significant projects.

This year just gone saw the invasion of Ukraine, the effects of which have reverberated around the globe. Our thoughts remain with the Ukrainian people, and we hope for a swift end to the war and a return to peace in Europe.

The resulting refugee crisis has put great strain on a housing system already under pressure, and our staff have worked tirelessly with all stakeholders to cater for the needs of all those in need of accommodation and I want to thank them for their efforts and the people of Cavan for their compassion and understanding.

The combined effects of global conflict, Brexit, Covid, and inflation and have presented an extremely challenging operating environment for the local authority. Yet despite these considerable challenges, your council has continued to deliver a high level of service and made significant progress in advancing major capital projects in County Cavan.

Early this year, the crew of Ballyjamesduff Fire Brigade will take up residence in their state of the art new fire station at Rassan Road, following the recent completion of construction work. This spacious, well equipped new station and training yard will provide this dedicated crew with the facility that their skill and commitment deserves and completes a lengthy modernisation process for the county’s 10 fire stations.

The vital role played by Civil Defence in our national COVID-19 response was highlighted recently in a medal presentation ceremony by the Minister for Defence and I was pleased to see contracts signed in November for the development of a new Civil Defence Headquarters at Pullamore. This capped a fantastic year for Cavan Civil Defence, which won the award for Emergency Response Team of the Year at the 2021 All Ireland Community and Council Awards held in April.

Cavan County Council also won a silver award for ‘Best Connected Council’ for the hugely successful ‘Cavan Day’ initiative, while our library service picked up a bronze award for its COVID-19 book delivery service, which provided a vital service to those isolating.

In another positive development for the library service, construction on the Virginia Civic, Cultural, and Library Services centre is substantially complete, with fit-out taking place this spring.

This €5.3 million facility will be a fantastic resource for the local community, which will include a revamped Ramor Theatre, and community civic space.

There was further good news for the county when Minister Heather Humphreys announced funding of €6.9 million for the redevelopment of the Percy French Hotel in Ballyjamesduff under the Rural Regeneration Development Fund.

We also welcomed then-Taoiseach, Mícheál Martin TD, to Town Hall Cavan in September for the announcement of Shared Island funding, including Cavan County Council-led projects to develop a Cross-Border Masterplan for Cuilcagh and a project to explore shared opportunities for the development of Castle Saunderson in Cavan and Castle Caldwell in County Fermanagh.

At this point, I would once again like to acknowledge the backing of our elected council, who support these major projects through the provision of match funding at budget time. These transformative projects could not proceed without match funding, and the foresight of our councillors in this regard is to be applauded.

Other major projects such as the transformative Abbeylands Regeneration Project in Cavan Town, major tourism developments at Cavan Burren Park and the Shannon Pot, and the Kingscourt Town Regeneration Scheme are progressing well though the planning and design phases.

In addition, Cavan County Council recently secured departmental approval to appoint a contractor to complete Section B of the N55 Corduff to South of Killydoon project, while the Virginia Bypass is progressing through Phase 2 – route selection – of the planning a design process.

It’s clear great progress has been made in 2022, and as we enter 2023, we do so with hope and anticipation of even greater things to come. I am particularly looking forward to Cavan Calling, the global Cavan homecoming festival, which takes place from 27 – 30 July. Originally scheduled for 2020, it is fantastic to finally see this exciting event approach. I hope those of you with friends and family abroad will spread the word and help make this a truly memorable gathering of the global Cavan family.