This article is from page 102 of the 2008-10-07 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 102 JPG
IT’S been two years in the planning but this week, the contractors will fi- nally get to work on a playground for youngsters in O’Brien’s Bridge.
Fund-raising, grants and a lot of hard work went into the scheme which will allow parents and children enjoy fun in the fresh air without having to get in the car and drive into Ballina or CRISTO
The local community got stuck in to support fund-raisers including a race night, a quiz night and a chilly St Stephen’s Day swim in the river.
“We’ve raised more than €20,000
to date and we still have €10,000 to raise but it’s great to see work start- ing,’ said playground committee member, Caroline Whelan.
A €71,000 grant from Clare County Council’s playground grants scheme has brought the cash in the kitty to €102,000. There is another St Stephen’s Day swim, a duck race and a country and western night in the offing to raise more cash. The playground was needed for the area to service the twin villages of O’Brien’s Bridge and Montpelier and also Bridgetown.
“Last year we counted over 261 children in the above areas. In recent
years we have had a increase in traffic passing through the village and need- ed somewhere safe for our children to play,’ said Caroline.
“There was an episode last year when two young children wandered off. If there had been play facilities in the area things like this would not happen.”
Included in the playground equip- ment will be toddler and older chil- dren’s swings, a spring seesaw, a spe- cial needs roundabout, a bird’s nest swing, a three-tower toddler multi play unit and a five-tower senior play unit. The playground will be fenced in with bow top fencing. The ten-
der was awarded to Cavanagh Play- ground Equipment who are based in Roscrea.
“We still need to fundraise so if an- yone is willing to take the plunge on St Stephen’s Day, we would like them to contact any member of the play- ground committee,’ said Caroline. She added that the O’Brien’s Bridge Community Group and Playground Committee “would like to express thanks to all the support we have re- ceived from the local community and various business’s in the area and if anyone wishes to make a donation to the fund please contact any of the committee or community group.”