Land deal with diocese for Carrick plan

A land transfer agreement between Monaghan County Council and the St Macartan’s Diocesan Trust, which manages land and assets for the Roman Catholic diocese of Clogher, has the potential to deliver “a massive economic boost” for the town of Carrickmacross, Cllr P J O’Hanlon (FF) told Monday’s meeting of the Council.

The meeting gave formal approval to the exchange, which will see the local authority acquire 0.6 hectares of land from the diocese at the town’s Convent Avenue, valued at €30,000, and dispose of a 0.8-hectare plot with a €25,000 valuation on the Ardee Road to the church body, and pay the diocese €5,000 to compensate for the valuation differential.

Elected members heard how land acquisition will allow the Council to enhance the linkages between the Convent Lands, for which a development master plan is in place, and the town centre. Director of Services for Planning and Economic Development, Cathal Flynn, recommended the approval of the transfer to the elected members.

Proposing the approval, Cllr O’Hanlon paid tribute to Council Chief Executive Robert Burns for taking on board the potential significance of this development when he met South Monaghan elected representatives at the beginning of his tenure.

“He knew the lie of the land in Carrickmacross and how important this move was,” praised Cllr O’Hanlon, adding: “We were promised this for a long time but it never happened. Now it has, and it will be a massive boost to the town economy and will benefit the St Louis Secondary School as well.”

The FF representative said the linkage will bring footfall to Carrick’s Main Street and help sustain the economic vibrancy of the heart of the town. He thought the deal represents “a very good news story” for Carrickmacross.

Seconding Cllr O’Hanlon’s proposal, Cllr Peter Conlon (FG) said that this development would never have happened without the Council’s impetus and drive. It will feed into plans for the Convent Avenue area of the town and open up the grounds of the convent for public activities, forming a key element in the master plan for the Convent Lands area, he added.

Noting that the transfer has been unanimously agreed at Carrickmacross-Castleblayney Municipal District level, Cllr Colm Carthy (SF) said linking the Convent Lands to Main Street will widen the scope of the master plan for the area and also direct pedestrian access from Main Street to the proposed site of the new Carrickmacross swimming pool.

Swimming pool

Cllr Carthy was told at the meeting that it is hoped to appoint Kennedy Fitzgerald Architects as the design team for the swimming pool project this month, after which arrangements will be made for engagement between the designers and the elected Council members.

The local authority is currently awaiting the submission of insurances.