From the Steering Committee Nov 1995

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At the launch of the Development Plan

Left to Right, Back row: Paul Thompson, Dermot Monaghan, Martin O’Grady, Bob Zonenblick, Donal Kennelly, Gerry Ahern, Conrad Byrnes, Jim Flynn, Peter Seery, Tom Cloonan, Finbarr O’Regan.

Front: Fr. Tony King, Tommy Quinn, Donal Carey, Minister of State for Western Development and Rural Renewal, Christy Coffey, Florrie O’Shea, Maura Molloy. Photo: Connacht Tribune

We are glad to report that we, the Athenry Parish Steering Committee, have finalised A framework Development Plan for Athenry Parish. This will be launched on the 15th December 1995 by Donal Carey, Minister for Western Development and Rural Renewal. We invite all the people of the parish to this event.

In undertaking our task we sought views and suggestions from all organisations and homes in the parish. We wish to recognise the tremendous response received and to acknowledge that all these views and suggestions were extremely useful to us. An overwhelming wish was suggested for improved parish communications and for a Parish Resource Centre office. In response to this the Steering Committee initiated the Athenry Journal and the first issue was published in June of this year.

In our deliberations we investigated our successful parish developments. We wish to record our thanks for the invaluable assistance received from Glenamaddy Community Development Association, to Brian Mooney, Chairman and staff of IRD Kiltimagh Ltd. and John Higgins, Chief Executive, Western Development Partnership Board.

At the initial parish meeting Donal Kelly and Louis Gillick from the ESB played a key role in guiding the establishment of the Steering Committee. Since then they have, unstintingly, assisted and supported us in many ways. We wish to record that our task could not have been achieved without their help.

The key recommendations in the plan are:

l. Athenry Community Development Association to establish a committee system of eight sub-groups to deal with

– Finance and Funding

– Agriculture and Farming

– Business, Enterprise and Employment

– Culture, Heritage and Communications

– Environment, Infrastructure

– Pastoral and Social Care

– Recreation and Sport.

2. Athenry Community Development Association to establish a

– Community Development Company

– A Resource Information Centre with professional staff.

– An Advisory Board drawn from representatives of the State Agencies, Statutory and Local Authorities.

The Committee systems of eight or more groups (as in 1 above) and the Development Company will share in the implementation of plans and projects. We have outlined in the plan how this should start.

We are confident that the implementation of this Development Plan will open the way to significant developments and improvements in the parish. However, we realise that this depends on harnessing the goodwill, enthusiasm and resourcefulness of all the people. Athenry parish already has a well-established track record in this regard and our proposals are directed at building further on this. Therefore, we trust that the people of the parish will welcome the challenge and opportunities that this plan presents.

Members of the Steering Committee: Gerry Ahern, Conrad Byrnes, Tom Cloonan, Christy Coffey, Jim Flynn, Fr. Tony King P.P., Maura Molloy, Dermot Monaghan, Martin O’Grady, Finbarr O’Regan, Florrie O’Shea, Tommie Quinn, Paul Thompson, Peter Seery, Bob Zonenblick.

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Written by Tommie Quinn

Published here 31 Oct 2022 and originally published 1995

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