Individual entrepreneurs and community groups who thought they had secured Leader funding are now left hanging as a decision by Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Phil Hogan, has resulted in the amount of funding going to Leader projects in Cavan and Monaghan being slashed by €2,111,252.
See the full article by Sinéad Hogan at: http://www.anglocelt.ie/news/roundup/articles/2013/06/20/4016375-smash-and-grab-hits-leader-for-2m/#comments
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Fianna Fáil Councillor, John Paul Feeley has welcomed commencement of work on the extension of the Market House in Blacklion to become the main Interpretive Centre for the UNESCO Marble Arch Global Geopark.
‘A great deal of work has been done by Cavan County Council and Killinagh Community Council to get this project to this stage, firstly to secure the Market House for public use and to develop plans to extend the premises for use as an Interpretative Centre for the Geopark.’
The two storey extension will include audio-visual displays, information panelling and will also extend the existing tourist information centre and gift shop which has been operated by Killinagh Community Council for the last number of years.
‘This project has involved close cooperation between Cavan County Council and Killinagh Community Development Ltd. Cavan County Council has been responsible for the design work, the tendering process and will supervise construction. Both have made a substantial financial contribution to the project with the bulk of the approximately € 200,000 to be spend on this project. In bringing the project to this stage, John Branigan Senior Engineer and Jack Keyes, County Manager I ager and John Toland of Cavan Monaghan LEADER have played a key role. As Secretary of Killinagh Community Development Limited and as the local councillor I thank them for their work todate.’
‘This project will made the Geopark much more concrete for the local community and hopefully increase the number of visitors coming to Blacklion and using the area as a base for exploring the Geopark. Visitor numbers continue to grow and it is hoped that they will grow dramatically in the coming years,’ Concluded Councillor Feeley.
It is hoped that the building will be ready for use by the end of this year
Lorraine Teevan Photography
Fianna Fáil County Councillor, John Paul Feeley welcomed the signing of contracts between Cavan County Council and P & S Limited for works at the Cavan Burren. The work will involve the construction of an unmanned interpretative centre, toilet blocks, picnic area and walks at the Cavan Burren site outside Blacklion.
‘The investment in excess of €900,000 will make the Cavan Burren much more accessible to the general public. The signing of these contracts, opening up this historic and unique geological and archaeological site, a huge spend on the site is an investment in the future.’
The on-going development of the Cavan Burren site has been made possible by a partnership arrangement between Coillte Teoranta and Cavan County Council, leasing the main sites in the Burren and the surrounding areas to Cavan County Council who have worked with other funding agencies to secure the financial resources needed. This project is funded under the Border Uplands Programme by ICBAN under the INTEREG 4A Programme.
‘The Cavan Burren and the Marble Arch Caves are the two lynchpins in the UNESCO designated Marble Arch Caves Global Geopark, the first cross border geopark in the world. Opening up this site is vital. Already the site attracts substantial members of visitors and it is expected that the further development will make the site physically more accessible but the additional signage and interpretative panels will allow the site become more understandable also.’
In addition to the building, an improved roadway, suitable for buses and cars, a substantial carpark and walkways totally over 6kms, 1km of which will be fully accessible to all users. In addition the site links into the Cavan Way and a number of other looped walks recently developed under the Harnessing Natural Resources Programme.
‘Bill Murphy and Eugene Griffin of Coillte have worked very closely with John Branigan, Derry Scanlon and Eoin Doyle, Director of Services for Cavan County Council to bring this project to fruition. I congratulate them on the work and wish the contracts, P & S Limited well as they set about implementing the plans. We must now push on with the project of developing the Geopark to its full potential, this investment is key to that.’
The plans are very sensitive to the site which is of huge significance. Within the site are five designated National Monuments together with over 80 sites of archaeological sites all in a setting of international geological importance.
‘There have been many delays along the way in bringing this project to the present level. Whilst funding 12.5% matching funding has been in place in this jurisdiction for over three years the remaining funding from the Stormont Executive took longer to put in place. County Manager, Jack Keyes has played a major role in this project and I thank him for his work.’
With contractors on site, all working under the supervision of Coillte, the County Council and archaeologists and geologists to ensure the sites are protected it is expected that work will be completed within six months.
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