Site at foot of Croagh Patrick to be transferred to local group

A community centre building on a site owned by Mayo County Council at the foot of Croagh Patrick in Murrisk is to be transferred into the ownership of the local development association.

The proposal to transfer the site was approved by councillors at last week's meeting of Westport-Belmullet Municipal District. 

Council official Jim Power told councillors that about 25 years ago the Murrisk Development Association (MDA) constructed a community centre in the car park beside Croagh Patrick on council-owned lands in agreement with the local authority. The centre was constructed with the aid of local effort, voluntary contributions and grant aid. The agreement was for the building to be used for MDA activities only, with MDA being a registered company with charity status. Established in 1994 as a voluntary community group, it promotes community and village development and acts as the voice of the community.

The council noted that the MDA had received advice that the centre should be included in their accounts as an asset and thus requested that the council transfer ownership of the site to it. Mr Power also noted that in the event of the MDA no longer being in existence, the site and building would revert to the council.

The transfer was approved by councillors in accordance with local government planning regulations. Cllr Peter Flynn noted that an additional council-owned building at the foot of Croagh Patrick was becoming an eyesore and required attention, saying: “Let’s figure out what we are doing with it as we just can’t leave it like this any longer.” 

Head of the district, Seamus O'Mongáin, advised that the council's tourism section was working on some developments for the site, adding that there would be a report on the matter in due course.