THERE was a warm welcome this week from community leaders and local authority representatives in Carrickmacross, Castleblayney, and Ballybay, for an announcement by the Minister for Arts Heritage Regional Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Heather Humphreys T.D., for an allocation of €157,000 in funding to be shared through important recreational projects in the three towns.
Minister Humphreys said she believed the funding would be very beneficial for the Carrickmacross/Castleblayney Municipal District and also for the Ballybay/Clones area.
She told THE NORTHERN STANDARD yesterday: “I am delighted to announce this funding which is being provided under my Department’s Rural Recreation Fund.
“I have allocated funding of €104,548 to the Carrickmacross-Castleblayney Municipal District. It will provide for a new linear park with walking and cycling trails linking the athletic grounds and soccer field at Tullynaskeagh East to the town centre in Carrickmacross.
“The funding will also provide for car parking, seating areas, the planting of trees and landscaping works”.
The new trails will include a 9km. Ancient Pilgrims Walk, a 6.5km. Nuremore Walk, a 5.9km. Rural Walk, and a 4.2km. Lake Walk at Lisanisk.
She said the Carrickmacross allocation would assist “a fantastic recreational amenity for young and old…