New Ballymote youth hub planned as Council moves to acquire historic Garda station building

By Philip Rooney, The Sligo Champion

The news that Sligo County Council has secured funding to acquire the former old Garda station building in Ballymote for a youth facility has been warmly welcomed by Cllr Dara Mulvey.

Foroige, the national body that works with young people, aims to establish a dedicated youth space, based in the old Garda Barracks at the Rock Ballymote.

Highlighting the benefits for the community, Cllr Mulvey said the new facility will help young people achieve their full potential.

“The facility will provide out-of-school support to young people in the community to enable them to overcome social isolation and adverse circumstances and achieve their full potential by improving their personal and social development outcomes,” stated Cllr Mulvey.

Cllr Mulvey noted the benefits of the building being utilised by Foroige will extend beyond Ballymote with neighbouring communities set to feel the positive impact of the new centre.

“Young people will access the facility as a foreign-managed drop-in youth centre – welcoming, safe, supervised premises. There will be an open door where positive choices are encouraged.

Foroige are dedicated to providing support to all youth in the Ballymote, Keash, Culfada, Gurteen, Coolaney, Bunninadden and Kilavil areas,” he said.

Cllr Dara Mulvey, Former TD John Perry and Liam Rafferty are pictured with representatives of Ballymote Foroige

Although the building is in need of work, Cllr Mulvey expressed the view that the central location will help to ensure it reaches its full potential, noting, “While the building will need renovations to modernise it, its prime location in the town centre and the need for such a facility mean it is a major benefit for the community.”

Outlining some of the work that has been put in place to advance the project to this stage, Cllr Mulvey noted, “Following initial contact with the OPW by former deputy John Perry, a series of follow-up meetings between Sligo County Council and Foroige took place to ensure the building was kept in community use, which is great news for Ballymote and surrounding towns, stated Cllr Mulvey.”

The old Garda station building was constructed in 1931 and was designed by the renowned Dublin architectural partnership Beckett and Harrington, originally as a branch of the Munster Leinster Bank. It was used as a Garda Station until 2009, when it closed as Ballymote was selected as the regional Garda Centre, and a new station was constructed.

Article Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.