*Tuamgraney.
BRIDGES may need to be built between Scariff and Tuamgraney to link up resources and give both adjoining parishes the same level of opportunity.
Ongoing work of the Scariff Town Team was hailed at a meeting of Clare County Council’s Rural Development Strategic Policy Committee (SPC) held on Tuesday morning.
Agricultural advisor Denis Tuohy who is also a member of Scariff Town Team told the meeting, “when it goes right and it is working with the supports in the background it is a very positive thing. There is huge money in rural development, it is very busy. Inis Cealtra is an example of the positive things coming in the area in the future”.
Community and voluntary representative, Mary Coffey from Tuamgraney suggested both adjoining parishes develop stronger links. “A little place like Tuamgraney which has all the industry and is 500 yards from Scariff but is not in some way linked to this, I don’t know how that can be brought about. I’d probably be shot in Tuamgraney for saying it but it is a missed opportunity”.
Cathaoirleach of the SPC, Cllr Pat Hayes (FF) noting the strong pride in each area’s identity quipped, “do you want to build a bridge between Scariff and Tuamgraney Denis”.
Tuohy responded, “there is a good conversation needed. Should Scariff Town Team be Scariff anymore, should it be Scariff and Tuamgraney because we are the key market town in the area, should you instead have a strategic planning committee for the wider region”. He said the question from Mary was “very valid” and “we will hopefully answer in the future”.
Committed and energetic people have been central to the success of Town Teams, Cllr Hayes outlined. “Key stakeholders are doing an awful lot of work in the towns and villages, that is something we should look forward to expanding”. He continued, “There’s a level of expectation that you will deliver but no one knows better than myself how the system can let you down”.
Absence of long-term funding remains a barrier, he said, “we are coming back to the theme of bringing people to the point and not having the funding to help them deliver. People have an expectation to deliver. I was part of the Scariff Town Team, we’ve been hugely successful but only for people like Denis, a lot of things would not get done”.
