A redevelopment strategy for the small town of Creeslough in County Donegal has been released. The new plans represent the result of numerous gatherings intended to breath new life into the town following the disastrous explosion at the local Applegreen petrol station on the afternoon of October 7th, 2022 which saw ten people lose their lives.
The Massinass Hall saw a turnout of around 100 residents for the disclosure of the strategy on Thursday evening. The town’s residents have been encouraged to share their thoughts concerning the most beneficial course of action for Creeslough.
The core of the strategy revolves around a newly envisioned community centre or hub, which includes comprehensive sports facilities. The hub will also encompass private spaces designated for ongoing counselling services to assist those still dealing with the fallout of the tragic incident. Moreover, there will be spaces dedicated to hosting local events to bolster the community spirit during its recovery.
Fr John John Duffy, the village’s local parish priest, acknowledged that Creeslough’s path to recovery may take generations, but expressed optimism that the new community hub will serve as the community’s pulse in the challenging times ahead.
Donegal County Council’s director of services, Liam Ward, confirmed that the land for the redevelopment has already been procured. He is optimistic that the project will aid in rallying community members in their shared path towards rejuvenation.
While the exact budget for the project is yet to be disclosed, the redevelopment strategy has indeed received planning approval. A number of groups, including Donegal County Council, Creeslough Community Association and the Creeslough Working Group, pooled resources to brainstorm the redevelopment strategy.
Those in attendance at the release of the strategy comprised bereaved families, local community heads, district councillors, Donegal County Council’s Cathaoirleach Cllr Martin Harley, and TD Joe McHugh. The Minister for Agriculture, Charlie McConalogue, was represented and international consulting firm Arup, who provided pro-bono services for the project, also attended.