*Inis Eagla.
BROKEN EQUIPMENT in Inis Ealga’s playground is “dangerous”, Shannon councillors have warned.
In a proposal before the Shannon Municipal District, Cllr Tony Mulcahy (FG) asked “that the broken equipment in the Inis Ealga playground be repaired, replaced or upgraded as soon as possible”.
Senior executive officer in the Shannon MD, Suzie Clifford stated that Clare County Council’s rural and community development officer for the Shannon MD would “work proactively with the local residents in the area to establish a playground committee who will in turn seek appropriate funding through various grant schemes to improve and enhance the existing playground offering at this location”.
She added, “playgrounds offer many benefits including a unique, safe and secure environment for children to build many essential skills as is the case at the Tir na nÓg and Town Park playgrounds, both of which are located in the heart of Shannon Town.
In March 2011, it emerged that safety standard inspection reports hadn’t been submitted for Inis Ealga’s playground since May 2009, which prompted the Council to issue a warning that playground equipment could be removed and that if a reconstituted playground committee wasn’t established that the local authority would have to restore the ground for use as a green area.
Back in 2007, the Inis Ealga residents playground development group received an offer of grant assistance for a playground on the main green area of the estate. Over the almost two decades since, the group is no longer as active.
Speaking at a sitting of the Shannon MD, Cllr Tony Mulcahy (FG) was able to recall “when this beautiful playground was put in”. He stated, “the housing problem is part of Clare County Council’s remit, it’s not like there is another agency living out in some other part of the world, we can’t have unsafe equipment there”. He added, “There is dangerous equipment there which has been highlighted, can we get away from this of bringing something in to give away to another part of the Council, we need to take ownership and send the bill to the housing department”.
During her last Shannon MD meeting as a councillor, Donna McGettigan TD (SF) recalled, “there was nearly a playground in every estate in Shannon when we were growing up, now it is very hard to find them and we need to protect what we have”.
Cathaoirleach of the Shannon MD, Cllr Pat O’Gorman (FF) commented, “It is not just dangerous but an eyesore when you drive into an estate”.
