This article is from page 11 of the 2011-06-21 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 11 JPG
SHANNON town has been compared to a “mini Ballymun” and has become “ghettoized”, due to the development of multiple apartments.
Independent councillor Gerry Flynn made the comment during a debate on a motion in which he called for Rineanna Park in Shannon to be rededicated as a public park for the people of Shannon and surrounding area. He suggested that a rededication ceremony be arranged and that the former Minister for State Donal Carey be invited, as he was the Minister that officially opened Rineanna Park in September 1996.
In a written response to the motion, senior executive engineer Eugene O’Shea stated, “This proposal is premature as the council is currently clarifying issues that need to be finalised prior to take-over, including access from Bóthar na Rinne to the park and title of the park itself. Once these issues are resolved then a recommendation can be made for the park to be formally taken in charge by the council.”
Cllr Flynn told a meeting of Shannon area councillors, “I don’t think Shannon was ready for a mini Ballymun which is what it is. It has become ghettoized.”
He said that the development of apartments led to the town park being lost, which, he said was “an insult to the people of Shannon”.
Cllr Flynn told The Clare People , “Shannon was not ready for the amount of apartments we got in the development plan for the town centre.”
He said that several apartments in the town are vacant. “They [planners] got it wrong. The development we wanted wasn’t blocks of apartments half empty. It is turning into not a very nice place,” he said.