Delight in Mayo town as long overdue project begins
At the sod-turning ceremony for the convent redevelopment project in Westport were, from left: Cathaoirleach of Mayo County Council Cllr Sean Carey, Minister Dara Calleary TD and Cathaoirleach of the Westport-Belmullet Municipal District Cllr Peter Flynn. Picture: Michael McLaughlin
Fully 17 years after Westport Town Council took ownership of the historic former Sisters of Mercy Convent site on Altamont Street in Westport, local councillors have expressed their joy at the turning of the sod for a €25m redevelopment project.
Cllrs Peter Flynn and Brendan Mulroy are the only two remaining Westport town councillors from 2008 who are still councillors for the area and both men expressed their relief at the turning of the sod on October 20 last. The Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF) will contribute €13.5m towards the project.
The project will include the restoration and extension of the derelict former primary school for a new public library, restoration of the laundry buildings there to provide a community hub and community facilities and the creation of new civic offices and a public realm area on the site, close to Westport town centre.
It is a project that has been beset by delays and controversies but Cllr Flynn described the turning of the sod by the Minister for Rural and Community Development, Dara Calleary, as "a very historic day for Westport and Mayo".
Speaking at a meeting of Westport-Belmullet Municipal District, he paid tribute to three councillors from 2008 who have "gone to their eternal reward’" - Ollie Gannon, Martin Keane and Margaret Adams - and to Minister Calleary and the chief executive of Mayo County Council Kevin Kelly for their work on the project, and his council colleague, Brendan Mulroy, for his communication with his Fianna Fáil colleague, Minister Calleary, "so he understood how critical this project is to West Mayo".
Cllr Mulroy said that to see the project finished will "probably be the highlight of my political career", also citing it as an example of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael working together, with Dara Calleary and Minister of State Alan Dillon "side by side for the betterment of Mayo".
Redevelopment was due to commence in 2011 but stalled and the site had lain idle for many years after the council took it over and was subject to vandalism and anti-social behavior in its buildings, many of which are protected structures.
It was once an industrial school, orphanage and Magdalene laundry.
- Published as part of the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.
