Cavan version of Charlie Bird’s plan to Climb Croagh Patrick Needed

On the 2nd April 2022 Charlie Bird intends to lead a climb of Croagh Patrick in aid of Pieta House Irish Motor Nerone Disease Association. Climbing Croagh Patrick may not be for everyone but maybe a section of the Cavan Way might be an option for those who want to support these two very worthy charities and also show solidarity with Charlie Bird and all those fighting MD.
I have asked the Cuilcagh Lakelands Geopark Team and County Cavan Sports Partnership to see how best to co-ordinate this and hope that arrangements can be made in the coming days.

€ 263,700 allocated to develop Belturbet Town Generation Master Plan

 € 263,700 allocated to develop Belturbet Town Generation Master Plan
Cavan County Council have been allocated € 210,960 under the Rural Regeneration & Development Fund (RRDF) to prepare detailed plans for the development of a multipurpose digital enterprise and tourism hub and for the further development of the heritage railway visitor attraction.

‘This funding is essential for Belturbet which has for a number of years had many vacant properties. It is also a town with immense potential. This will build on the very hard work of the local community who have engaged closely and constructively with Cavan County Council over long years in the restoration of the Railway Station, the redevelopment of the Town Hall and more recently through Project Belturbet.’

‘I have been delighted to work with members of Project Belturbet and Belturbet Community Development Ltd who manage the Townhall and who have led the way on the Railway Station Restoration on this and other matters.’

This allocation is a further endorsement of that cooperation which also allowed Cavan County Council to last year secure € 199,800 under the Town and Village Scheme to provide a new service block at Belturbet Marina and the Phase 2 of works to Belturbet Youth Hub.

‘In every Town and Village in our County there is a need for investment and improvement which collaborating with the local community must be led by Cavan County Council. The work done to date on this application for Belturbet is an example of that commitment.’

‘I want to acknowledge the huge work undertaken on this application by the Council staff in the Community & Enterprise Section in conjunction with their colleagues in the Cavan-Belturbet Municipal District.’

‘Even in this allocation for the development of a detailed plan for Belturbet the County Council must provide matching funding of € 52,740. This plan will form the basis for a further application to the RRDF or some other funding stream for the implementation costs. Again, the Council will have to provide match funding which varies depending on the scheme from 20% to 40% not to mention the investment from staff and other consultants engaged by the Council.’

‘As a Council in our Budget for 2022 we took the difficult decision to increase commercial rates primarily so that we would be able to fund the making of applications such as this to RRDF and provide match funding for this allocation and future allocations for Belturbet and around the County.’

‘Whilst during the course of lengthy discussions on the Budget no counter-proposal were made and the Budget passed unanimously some members made grand statements bemoaning the Budget. This announcement is an example of what positive public representatives working with the Council Executive can do and I am glad to have played my part.’

ENDS.
J

Works at Annagh Lake Amenity to be completed by the end of November



Fianna Fáil Councillor, John Paul Feeley has welcomed confirmation from Council staff that the outstanding works to be completed at Annagh Lake to upgrade the amenity facilities have started today and will be completed by the end of November.
Last year, I worked with members of the local community and staff of the County Council to bring forward a proposal for much needed improvements at this popular amenity near Butlersbridge. Whilst the car park is in excellent condition the rest of the amenity is in need of improvement.
Funding of €45,000 under the CLÀR Programme has been allocated to provide new changing facilities, a BBQ, extended picnic facilities and a biodiversity area. Work has already been done to improve the footpaths.
The existing changing rooms are not attractive or sufficient to make users feel at ease using them. The new facility will be more attractive and have been designed in conjunction with users. The new stone BBQ area will be constructed adjacent to the picnic area which is to be substantially improved.
This investment was widely welcomed when announced last year. I am delighted to see the work commence and look forward to completion shortly.
ENDS

Important Week fro Cuilcagh Lakeland’s Geopark


This week two judges from the UNESCO Global Geopark Network will visit the Cuilcagh Lakeland’s Geopark to complete a four year review of the activities of the Geopark as part of the revalidation process.
The visit was due in 2020 but due to Covid was deferred for one year. Over the course of the three-day inspection the judges will visit Geopark sites in Counties Cavan and Fermanagh, meet with Geopark staff, senior staff in Fermanagh & Omagh District Council and Cavan County Council, Geopark Guides, representatives of local tourism business and the local community.
As chair of the Geopark Committee, I look forward to meeting and welcoming, the judges, Dr. Asier Hilario from the Basque Coast UNESCO Geopark and Jean Simon Pages from the Haute-Provence UNESCO Global Geopark to our Geopark.
The Geopark has made significant progress over recent years, many of the major sites have had upgrade works complete to improve the visitor experience, it had been rebranded as the Cuilcagh Lakelands Geopark UNESCO Global Geopark, a dedicated team of staff have been put in place to manage and develop the Geopark based in Blacklion but working with colleagues in both local authorities. A Development Plan has been agreed by both Councils setting out the medium to long-term objectives of the Geopark and very large-scale funding has been put in place from Failte Ireland for the development of the Shannon Pot and the Cavan Burren Park.

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