SWIMMING POOL

The proposal that a public Swimming Pool should be developed by Gaiway County Council at a central location in West  Connemara has been further discussed during the week.

This proposal was put forward by the CommuNíty Forum group in Carna prior to last June's County Council election and it  gained support from most of the candidates who were elected in Connemara.

However, Galway County Council management has now told Cllr. ConNíe Ní Fhátharta that the money is not available for such a project in Connemara; it is understood that a swimming pool and associated leisure facilities would cost about €8m.

Cllr. Ní Fhátharta said she cannot accept this answer as the County Council has built public Swimming Pools in Ballinasloe  and in Tuam, and it is also involved in a plan for another public Pool in Loughrea.

"Surely, there is no reason that Connemara should be left out in the coId", Cllr. Ní Fhátharta said.

Meanwhile, the selection of a location for a public swimming pool in west Connemara would have to be dealt with, if Galway  County Council were to agree to the proposal.

Cllr. Ní Fháthartad's recent proposal to Galway County Council referred to the area between Furbo (sic) and Carna. However Cllr. Seosamh Ó Cuaig and Cllr. Josie Conneely spoke about the issue on Connemara Community Radio and they both  appeared to be in agreement that Maam Cross - recently selected as a Settlement Centre - would be a good location.

Maam Cross is fairly central to most areas in west Connemara, and in comments this week, Cllr. Ó Cuaig said that the  planníng for the proposed public swimming pool in west Connemara should begin, soon.

 

Údarás commits to continue with marine research in Carna

 

Councillor Seosamh Ó Cuaig has been given a commitment by the management of  Údarás na Gaeltachta that  there will be strong support  for further developments at the NUIG Marine Research Centre in Mweenish (sic) in Carna.

The Recarch Centre has been located in Carna for almost 30 years and major work has been done there on fish farming the development of the abalone species and, latterly, a project on the development of farmed cod in Irish waters.

There is a planning application for an additional building at the Centre with Galway County Couneil at the moment. A 4 acre site has also  been earmarked for development alongside the Research Centre with tentative plans for a range of marine projects. This site has been set aside as development lands in the Galway Counil Dev elopment Plan.

Councillor Ó Cuaig ߟsaid that a figure of up to € 2Om is being mentioned, in the long term. in regard to developments in Mweenish.

"I welcome the fact that the Údarás management Is focusing on the Marine Centre in Mweenish," ClIr. Ó Cuaig said. "We must get the  maximum benefit from the sea in west Connemara. and on the west coast of Ireland.

"However, commitments are one thing but I would like to see the colour of the money", he says.