Mayo Cllr disputes 'gossip and innuendo' claim
The Olde Woods in Balla
A Castlebar councillor said she wants to “set the record straight” on the provision of emergency accommodation in Balla.
Cllr Donna Sheridan previously raised concerns about the use of the Olde Woods in Balla.
The owners of the property later accused the councillor of embarking on ‘a solo run based on gossip and innuendo’.
They stated in February that the premises is leased to an independent company which has been housing Ukrainian residents since 2023. They said that only three of the twelve rooms had recently been made available for people on the homeless list, on a short-term basis, while the majority of the property continues to be occupied by Ukrainian residents.
Cllr Sheridan told the March monthly meeting of Castlebar Municipal District that she felt her character was called into question.
“At no time did I misinform this meeting or the media. I came in here and I said that the Olde Woods in Balla is being used as homeless accommodation. That is a correct fact which I have fact checked,” said Cllr Sheridan.
The Balla-native submitted a Further of Information (FOI) request on the accommodation. She said nobody from the Castlebar Municipal District area is being housed in Balla.
“It’s people from outside this District,” Cllr Sheridan stated.
She maintains that the premises is “not a suitable location” for emergency accommodation. “We are putting people into a situation where there is nobody on-site full-time,” Cllr Sheridan claimed. “It’s just not acceptable,” she stated.
Cllr Sheridan said the situation remains “concerning” for people in Balla. “Balla is my hometown. I grew up there, I know what is going on there,” she added.
Cllr Michael Kilcoyne told the meeting that he believes if people from Balla or the surrounding areas find themselves homeless then the accommodation should be provided to them.
“The people from Castlebar who are homeless should not be sent down to Charlestown or to Crossmolina. There should be accommodation in their area. I’m saying the same thing in relation to Balla. If there are people in Balla or the surrounding area who are homeless because of circumstances outside their control, they should be getting first preference,” he stated.
