Kilcoo children get new playground

Kilcoo children get new playground

20 May 2015

A NEW community play park has been officially opened in Kilcoo.

After four years of hard work by the village’s community association, the new facility was officially opened last Friday after funding was provided by a number of organisations.

They include the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development’s Rural Development Programme delivered by the Down Rural Area Partnership’s local action group and joint council committee, Down Council and the Housing Executive.

Kilcoo community group chairman, Paddy Morgan, welcomed everyone to the official opening with guests including Department of Agriculture deputy secretary, David Small, Newry, Mourne and Down Council chairwoman, Naomi Bailie, local politicians, Housing Executive and Co. Down Rural Community Network staff.  

Kilcoo Community Association official, Ann Grant, described the location of the village in a rural setting as a “beautiful place,” but explained it is one where many families live without access to services that other people take for granted. 

She continued: “This project is really needed here. We are proud that we have been able to provide facilities that improve our children’s happiness and well-being.  

“This project was indeed a real community effort and the community association would like to pay particular thanks to the teaching staff and children from St Malachy’s Primary School for assisting with the village plan which identified the need for the play park.”

Ann added: “We would like to thank Kilcoo GAC for not only providing the land for the community play-park but also the on-going support given to the community association for all its activities and projects.”

She also thanked all the project’s funders, with special thanks reserved for Janine Connolly of the Co. Down Rural Community Network for her support and advice throughout the project.

Mr. Small said he was “delighted” the Kilcoo group was able to avail of the funding opportunity provided through the rural development programme.

He added: “This project was funded under the village renewal and development measure which is designed to address needs identified by the rural population through a ‘bottom-up’ approach, supporting integrated village initiatives and promoting cross-community development and regeneration. I think we can all agree that with this project these aims have been achieved.”