Upgraded Playground Officially Opened in Macroom
The updated playground makes use of several original features which were renovated and repainted. New equipment suitable for younger and older children has been installed including a new spacenet as well as junior and senior mega multiplay units.
The Cork County Council project saw the entire surface of the playground replaced. The seating areas have been renovated and new signs have been added.
Mayor of County Cork, Cllr. Gillian Coughlan was delighted to cut the ribbon, she said, “This playground is a fantastic amenity for the children and families of Macroom and its hinterland. It is wonderful that some of the original equipment is in such good condition after almost 25 years that it could be renovated and kept. That shows how well the local community has looked after this facility. It became a really important outdoor recreational space for locals during the Covid-19 restrictions. The newly renovated playground is attracting even more visitors which is superb with so much positive feedback about the new additions.”
Chief Executive of Cork County Council, Tim Lucey, added, “Macroom playground has been a priority amenity for the Elected Members locally and it is great to see the reaction to the refurbishment. We hope it will enhance the lives of the people in the town. Macroom is undergoing a transformation at present with the €280 million Macroom Baile Bhuirne Bypass Project which will see the town of Macroom bypassed by 2024. The renovation and refurbishment of the much loved Macroom Library and Briery Gap Theatre commenced in December 2021 and is due to be completed by June 2023. Coupled with these impressive projects there are a number of public realm projects currently in the pipeline for Macroom. The economic benefit of these projects to the town of Macroom cannot be overstated.”
Cork County Council funded the removal of the old playground, the design and construction of the new facility with an allocation of €20,000 through its Macroom Municipal District, together with funding of €16,131 secured from the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) under the Capital Grants Scheme 2021. The remaining costs of the project were funded through Cork County Council’s Municipal District Operations and Rural Development.
Local company Browne Brothers Site Services Ltd were the main contractors. The playground was designed by one of their employees who lives in Macroom and is very familiar with the playground.
Tá Clós Súgartha Mhaigh Chromtha oscailte go hoifigiúil ag Méara Chontae Chorcaí, an Clr. Gillian Coughlan, tar éis athchóiriú suntasach ar an áis atá 25 bliain d'aois.
Baineann an clós súgartha nuashonraithe úsáid as roinnt bunghnéithe a ndearnadh athchóiriú agus athphéinteáil orthu. Tá trealamh nua oiriúnach do leanaí níos óige agus níos sine curtha isteach chomh maithe , lena n-áirítear 'spacenet' nua chomh maith le haonaid spraoi ilchineálach do pháistí sóisearacha agus sinsearacha.
Athsholáthraíodh dromchla iomlán an chlóis súgartha faoin tionscadal seo de chuid Comhairle Contae Chorcaí. Tá athchóiriú déanta ar na suíocháin agus tá comharthaí nua curtha leis freisin.
Bhí áthas ar Mhéara Chontae Chorcaí, an Clr. Gillian Coughlan, an ribín a ghearradh don ócáid seo. Dúirt sí, “Is áis iontach é an clós súgartha seo do pháistí agus do theaghlaigh Mhaigh Chromtha agus an ceantar máguaird. Is iontach an rud é go bhfuil cuid den trealamh bunaidh chomh maith sin tar éis beagnach 25 bliain go rabhthas in ann iad a athchóiriú agus a choimeád. Léiríonn sé sin an aire mhaith a thug an pobal áitiúil don áis seo. Bhí an clós súgartha seo ina spás áineasa fíor-thábhachtach lasmuigh do mhuintir na háite le linn srianta Covid-19. Tá níos mó cuairteoirí á mealladh ag an gclós súgartha nua-athchóirithe, rud atá iontach, agus tá aiseolas dearfach ag teacht chugainn faoi na rudaí nua a cuireadh leis.”
Dúirt Príomhfheidhmeannach Chomhairle Contae Chorcaí, Tim Lucey, “Bhí clós súgartha Mhaigh Chromtha mar thaitneamhacht tosaíochta ag na Baill Tofa go háitiúil agus is iontach an fhreagairt ar an athchóiriú a fheiscint. Tá súil againn go gcuirfidh sé le saol mhuintir an bhaile mhóir. Tá athchóiriú á dhéanamh ar Mhaigh Chromtha faoi láthair le Tionscadal Sheachbhóthar Bhaile Bhuirne Mhaigh Chromtha ar fiú €280 milliún é, rud a fhágfaidh go seachnófar baile Mhaigh Chromtha faoi 2024. Cuireadh tús le hathchóiriú Leabharlann Mhaigh Chromtha agus Amharclann Bhearna na Sceiche i mí na Nollag 2021 agus táthar ag súil go mbeidís críochnaithe faoi mhí an Mheithimh 2023. Mar aon leis na tionscadail shuntasacha seo tá roinnt tionscadal fearainn phoiblí ar siúl faoi láthair do Mhaigh Chromtha. Ní féidir an iomarca béime a chur ar bhuntáiste eacnamaíoch na dtionscadal seo do bhaile Mhaigh Chromtha.”
Mhaoinigh Comhairle Contae Chorcaí fáil réidh leis an seanchlós súgartha, dearadh agus tógáil na háise nua le leithdháileadh de €20,000 trína Ceantar Bardasach Mhaigh Chromtha, mar aon le maoiniú de €16,131 faighte ón Roinn Leanaí, Comhionannais, Míchumais, Lánpháirtíochta agus Óige (DCEDIY) faoin Scéim Deontas Caipitil 2021. Maoiníodh costais eile an tionscadail trí Oibríochtaí na gCeantar Bardasach & Forbairt Tuaithe Chomhairle Contae Chorcaí.
Ba iad an chuideachta áitiúil Browne Brothers Site Services Ltd na príomhchonraitheoirí. Dhear duine dá bhfostaithe a bhfuil cónaí air i Maigh Chromtha an clós súgartha agus a bhfuil an-aithne aige ar an gclós súgartha.