AN INSIGHT INTO the AREA WE LIVE in Vol
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An initiative of Ballinasloe Area Community Development Ltd. To get in touch with Ballinasloe Life online, visit us here: www.ballinasloeenterprisecentre.ie www.facebook.com/BallinasloeLife AN INSIGHT INTO THE AREA WE LIVE IN Vol. 11 Issue 1: Apr ‘21 - May ‘21 Photo by Robert Riddell NEW LIFE FOR ALI GREEN AHASCRAGH FLOORING PORTER - DISTILLERY’S NEW MARKETING BANK CHAMBERS DIRECTOR CHELTENHAM HERO Ballinasloe - Gateway To The West www.ballinasloe.ie Gullane’s Hotel & CONFERENCE CENTRE To help stop the spread of Covid-19 Gullanes Hotel is temporarily closed. We will keep you posted as to when we are reopening. We look forward to seeing you all again soon Until then hope you all stay safe. Main Street, Ballinasloe, Co. Galway T: 090 96 42220 F: 090 96 44395 E: [email protected] Visit our website gullaneshotel.com Fergal Lenahan EVELYN DONNELLAN REAMHRA Welcome to Volume 11 issue 1 Welcome to this Easter’s Edition and firstly thanks for all the lovely Estate Landlords of the 17th and 18th Century command the freehold of messages of support and congratulations on our milestone publication the streets and commercial hearts; so they can determine how many last Feb. It is encouraging to know how much our combined efforts mean tattoo parlours or boiled sweetshops they wish to have in their midst – far to so many. more effectively than the local Municipality. This is the 6th edition in a row since the Taoiseach’s address in Washington Great news for our Saolta Hospital complex with the new €15 million 50 Gullane’s Hotel without an events guide – we have as a society been devoid of planned bed unit gone to tender and works started, another €20 million of state events for 12 months. No one in the limited conversations we had in the money earmarked for town development and €15m from the Dept of Ed & CONFERENCE CENTRE early few weeks of this year mentions any more - Auld Moore’s Almanac for a new school, plus planning approved for some €25m of residential or the Donegal Postman with their prophecies on the months ahead. It’s units leaves us well positioned for the decade ahead. as almost in the daily drudgery of lockdown living we are loosing the All good weathervane for the future but still the vibes are despondent – confidence to plan; as it’s all based on NPHET’s numbers. they need not be; vaccines will help but we are not going to be leaving Yet again these pages offer ample evidence of groups trying to make levels for a few seasons anytime soon. plans for our future, trying to bring services, food, smiles to folks in “Hope springs eternal in the human breast, all sorts of difficult circumstances. Raising money for worthy causes, Man never Is, but always To be blest. celebrating through word and photo rather than activity. All parts of The soul, uneasy, and confin’d from home, building blocks of any community. Articles and Rests and expatiates in a life to come.” Wrote We salute in a small way our closeknit colleagues of vintner and Alexander Pope. Photos Welcome hospitality families who have nearly remained shut for a full year with no definity on the horizon. We will all see better days ahead. Eastertime is a wonderful time of renewal and hope – we hope it is for all our readers. 21 years after the purchase and renovation of St. Enda’s Chronic in NEXT ISSUE 1999, our Community Development Company with the Bank Chambers Le Gach De Ghui, th Deadline May 12 Office Hub project begins its town centre phase which as is happening COLM CROFFY, in Holland, Canada and parts of the UK – the Community Trusts like the Editor. To help stop the spread of Covid-19 For submission of articles, For the first time in a long number of years, Ballinasloe is going to be The development of St Brigid`s campus is moving along as well as please email: at the forefront of major Central & Local Government Investment. At the major investments in accommodation and facilities in Portiuncula same time, I wish to acknowledge the investment by Galway Co Council Hospital. Ballinasloe Railway Station have also been allocated funding [email protected] in our fine Library and town enhancement scheme, an outlay of c €11m. for upgrading. These will create new jobs in the area in conjunction with To advertise I believe we need a multi-agency oversight group to link the various ongoing expansion of private business. Gullanes Hotel is temporarily closed. Government Departments who will be spending funds so that there is a We in BACD have purchased a building on Society Street and will develop your events contact: co-ordinated work schedule and we all get value for money spent. this to create further sustainable jobs in addition to the 180 in the [email protected] Transport Infrastructure Ireland have been funded to the tune of c €800k Enterprise Centre in Creagh. or Call 090 964 5831 to set up offices in the Library through which we hope they will co- You all have a part to play in this process and will have opportunities th ordinate the Athlone to Galway Greenway through Ballinasloe. They need through conversations and meetings to ensure all of the above projects by May 10 to link in with the Bord of Works who are in the process of providing flood are followed through to fruition. You can appreciate the impact all of the relief scheme at a cost of €8.5m. This is an ideal opportunity for these two above will have on top of the welcome €400,000 shop front enhancement CREDITS organisations to work together so that walkers, cyclist and people with scheme which is now happening. disabilities will be able to travel all the way along our unique blue way Galway County Council are in the process of finalising their 5 year plan. We amenity the River Suck from Derrymullen to the Lock at the Motorway. in BACD are putting a 10 year plan in place with a focus on 3 pillars which We will keep you posted as to when we are reopening. EDITOR Galway County Council are in the process of developing the link road at the encompasses all of the above and have made a sizeable submission to Colm Croffy rear of Main Street / Society Street in conjunction with the development Galway Co Council for same to be incorporated into their REPORTER/ of the new Town School, these all need to link in with and another. The plan. It has also been submitted to Roscommon County Hidden heartlands have recently launched a plan for the development Council as 50% of the Ballinasloe Catchment area is in VIDEOGRAPHER of the Region and have an initial budget of €74.5m, some of which will County Roscommon. Jack Treacy, Gerry Stronge be available to initiatives in the Ballinasloe catchment area. Waterways Ireland also have plans to develop all waterways and in particular the SEAMUS DUFFY, CONTRIBUTORS Chairman Ballinasloe Area Community lesser used routes under which Ballinasloe Marina would be a part, again We look forward to seeing you all again soon Ken Kelly, Barry Lally, Evelyn Development Limited. Donnellan and various other these are all linked. contributors WHAT’S INSIDE GRAPHIC DESIGN LOCAL NEWS 28 Continual Local Big Clean-up KPW Ballinasloe 4 Lighting Scheme Developments 30 THIS, THAT AND THE OTHER… PRINT 5 €400,000 Investment in Shop Fronts 34 Primed for Saving The Barn Owl KPW Print, Ballinasloe BUSINESS 35 St Michael’s Church Folk Choir 6 Ballinasloe at high risk of flooding 36 Karen Breen - Friday Song Day Until then hope you all stay safe. PHOTOS 7 Tourism and Heritage Study 38 Garbally Life 1951–1956 Robert Riddell 8 21 Years a growing- a personal tale 39 Cooke Conquers Canada J&S Photos - jsphotos.ie 9 Old Bank to be a Working Hub CULTURE Evelyn Donellan Follow us on Twitter 10 Grow Remote Chapter Develops 40 Editing Our President’s Book Michael S. Kelly @BallinasloeLife 11 New Therapeutic Product 42 Town Band Help Celebrate Gerry Devlin 12 17 Pubs Closed for a Year 43 New Heritage Guide a Boost 14 New Distillery’s Marketing 44 Town Hall Theatre’s Seomra Eile COMMUNITY SPORT 16 Waste Transfer Decision Soon 45 Flooring Porter Finish First at Cheltenham 16 Spring Photo Competition 46 Ballinasloe GAA Prepare For New Season 17 CU holds first Virtual AGM 48 The 70 Miles for 70 Years Challenge 18 Upskilling Through GRETB 49 Parsons Scoops Arena Award Main Street, Ballinasloe, 19 Social Services Team Still Serving HERITAGE 20 Killimor’s New Data Hub 52 Musical Brothers Pass Away 21 Volunteers Finish Graveyard Project 53 Aughrim man shot in Clifden Co. Galway 22 BOC Supporting Community Smiles! 54 Local Darkness Into Light 2021 23 INVOLVE - Still there for YOU! 55 Laura Wood Ballinasloe Enterprise Centre, T: 090 96 42220 F: 090 96 44395 24 Cycleway Mobilises Huge Support 56 Archdeacon Charles Trench Creagh, Ballinasloe. Co. Galway 25 Public Facilities Needed 58 Obituaries T: 090 9646516 F: 090 9646517 26 Darcy Sisters Fundraising E: [email protected] Disclaimer: The opinions and views in this publication are those of the contributors. In the compilation of this publication, every care is taken E: [email protected] www.ballinasloeenterprisecentre.ie to ensure accuracy. Any errors or omissions should be brought to the attention of the Editor. Ballinasloe Life does not accept any liability to any person for loss or damage arising from anything contained in this publication or for any error or omission in it.