A large attendance for the opening of a new playground at Ballinskelligs reflected just how badly the facility was needed, according to a member of Coiste Forbartha na Sceilge.
he new €120,000 playground, located near the beach-side car park in the area, was given its official opening in recent days by Fianna Fáil Councillor Norma Moriarty following its blessing by Fr Patsy Lynch and speeches by Micheál Ó Leidhin and Dessie Cronin on behalf of Coiste Forbartha na Sceilge, who developed the facility. Refreshments, including free ice cream, were made available on the day for young and not so young, and this reflected the celebratory mood there currently is in the Uíbh Ráthach village.
“It took several years to reach this point, but thanks to funding from LEADER, Roinn na Gaeltachta, an Irish-American partnership, and local fund-raising, it has become possible,” Dessie Cronin explained to The Kerryman. “Kerry County Council, who provided the site, also distributed funding to the project.
“The facility is great to have for the local population, but we also have 300 holiday homes here, and this was badly needed.”
Mr Cronin added that the playground includes equipment that can be used by children living with disabilities, and he paid tribute to everyone who made the project a reality.
