Shanagolden Community Council is celebrating this week following the confirmation of approval of a grant of almost €200,000 from West Limerick Resources. This week’s announcement comes as welcome news to the community which plans to use the funding to develop their community park, the Captain Tim Madigan Park, to include a perimeter walking route, landscaping and new toilet and changing facilities. Having been approved grant aid by the board of West Limerick Resources in November 2012, confirmation came through this week, that the Depart-ment of Environment, Community and Local Government has also sanctioned the €195,101.47 grant.
Shanagolden Community Council, which spearheaded the project, started working with West Limerick Resources on the project only six months ago. “Shanagolden Community Council got a new lease of life last summer when a new committee was formed,” explained group secretary Joe Ryan. Following a series of community meetings the group identified the development of the park as their first major project and began working with West Limerick Resources to develop their application.
The current project will see the development of a public walkway around the perimeter of the 10 acre park to provide a safe amenity for all members of the community. In addition new changing rooms, showers and toilet facilities will be construc-ted as well as the instal-lation of seating and other new planting and land-scaping. The park is currently used by Estuary Rugby Club, Shannonside Football Club, St Senan’s Bord na nÓg and Com-munity Games as well as the local school.
It is estimated that the entire project will cost in the region of €250,000. In order to bridge the gap in funding, the Community Council has a number of major fundraising events planned for 2013 including a Monster Card Game on Good Friday, March 29th and a 10km sponsored walk during the summer. The year’s fundraising will culminate in a concert by the Celtic Tenors in Shanagolden Church on December 21st, their last concert before Christmas.
News of the approval was welcomed this week by local Deputies Dan Neville and Patrick O’Donovan.