Children get to try out new Ballyroan Playground
Tommy Brunton, Tommy Fenlon, Dan Whelan and Kyle O’Loughlin at the official opening of the Ballyroan Playground Project See more photos from the opening in next week's issue of Laois Nationalist Photos: Alf Harvey
THE launch of the first playground in Ballyroan drew a big crowd and much excitement on Tuesday 23 June.
The new development, christened Croí an Bhaile (‘heart of the town’) by the children of a nearby primary school, includes a state-of-the-art playground and a multi-use games area.
The project is the culmination of four years of effort, dating back to a meeting councillors Barry Walsh and John Joe Fennelly had with local priest Fr Paddy Byrne over former school buildings in Ballyroan.
The project was funded by the Town and Village Renewal Scheme and through the Community Climate Action Grants and Community Recognition Fund, with strong community-led initiatives providing an additional boost in funding to the value of €140,000 as part of the Ballyroan Goes to Hollywood community campaign.
Addressing the launch, Laois Co Council director of services Angela McEvoy praised the determination of the local community in bringing about the project and heaped special praise on a member of LCC staff Anne-Marie Maher, whom, she argued, had been crucial in having new playgrounds installed across Co Laois.
“This didn’t happen overnight and it certainly didn’t happen by accident. Getting this new playground and multi-use games area over the line has been a monumental community effort.” The opening ceremony concluded with the presentation of prizes to winners of a school colouring competition before the assembled excited children were, at last, allowed to try out the playground for the first time.
