Offaly Playground still out of action ten months after Storm Éowyn

CLLR Hughie Egan told the November monthly of Offaly County Council that unfortunately the Playground in Shannonbridge is still out of commission ten months after Storm Éowyn hit the country, felling trees on a massive scale.
“During Éowyn,” commented the councillor, “a number of trees fell on the playground making the equipment inoperable. But I know the playground will be back because they are a great community in Shannonbridge. There's a number of positive things going on there at the moment. For example there's the proposed Shannonbridge Plaza which will be fabulous. You know, 15 years ago Shannonbridge was dead; now it is one of the go-to places in the county.” A lease agreement with the new playground committee was passed during the County Council's November monthly meeting. Funding now needs to be put in place. The committee have applied for CLÁR funding and the Temporary Emergency Generation Community Benefit Fund. Cllr Egan pointed out that it's very disappointing that the TEG Benefit Fund is not applicable outside a 5km radius from the Shannonbridge TEG power plant. “This is a great shame because Clonfanlough Hall is 7km away and that's a project which should be funded. I really would appeal that we extend this funding radius limit. Unfortunately there's often not a lot of forward thinking in the ESB.”
Eleanor Clendennen agreed with Cllr Egan. She said it would be a great day when the playground is finally brought back to its former glory.

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