Projects progress in Ballyhaise

Ballyhaise Community Development Association attended the most recent meeting of Bailieborough – Cootehill Municipal District.

The meeting was held in Ballyhaise Community Centre, which, is itself an ongoing project for the Association.

The community group was invited by Cathaoirleach of the MD and son of Ballyhaise, Sinn Féin Councillor Stiofán Conaty, who said “I was delighted and very proud to bring the meeting to Ballyhaise and the community centre, which is a fine facility and very well looked after.”

At the meeting, vice chair of the Association, Kevin Slowey, gave an account of some of the work done in conjunction with Cavan County Council for the betterment of Ballyhaise.

The group was set up as far back as the 1980s with the intention of developing a community centre where last week’s meeting was held. Recently, its interior was re-painted and new windows and stage lights installed.

Today, the centre is regularly leased out for use by various community groups.

It’s hoped a children’s playground adjoining the community centre will be open in the next month just in time for the school holidays.

Some of the projects planned for the near future include converting the old gatehouse building into a café and establishing a community garden for the area.

The delegation told the members of the local MD that the town needs a bus shelter – something which has been raised at council level before.

New housing developments planned for Ballyhaise were welcomed by the community group and MD members as it was recognised the population of this Cavan town is increasing like many others.

While everyone welcomed the recent revamp of Ballyhaise Town Square, which was carried out with funding from Cavan County Council, some expressed disappointment about the level of dereliction in the village particularly of former business properties in and around the town centre area.

“Ballyhaise Community Development Association is a very good example of what can be achieved,” Councillor Stiofán Conaty said.

“The town is gong from strength to strength and has a wonderful community spirit.

“What we would love to and need to see now is the promotion of commercial activity in the centre of the village to match and cater for its growing population.”