MEP meets Cootehill Town Team

Work is ongoing on a number of projects in the town.

Local MEP Chris MacManus has met with the Cootehill Town Team.

The Sinn Féin representative was in the county to see ongoing community development work being undertaken.

He was accompanied on the visit by local Councillor Paddy McDonald.

The Cootehill Town Team is one of a number of organisations working in the area to promote the town generally and foster better community engagement and civic pride.

A number of projects have been undertaken or are in the planning.

Speaking after the meeting, MEP Chris MacManus said he was "delighted" to have seen the work in Cootehill.

“Our discussion really highlighted the importance of our border communities, but also the importance of investing in jobs and services in this region.”

“This group was formed as result of a number of incidents involving young people in the area and was set up with the aim of having community at its heart. I was impressed with this focus on community development as local development is always more effective and efficient if decided and implemented at grassroots level.”

“Community development is hugely important in rural towns and villages, many of which would be lacking in basic facilities without groups and individuals taking the initiative. We must support rural communities to play an active role in the economic, social and cultural development of their local areas.”

“The Town Team are involved in the Tidy Towns group, promoting accessibility and economic development, redeveloping the old Ulster Bank building as a community space, and a number of other initiatives. They have a particular focus on addressing the needs of the most vulnerable in the community, which is vital at a time when we have a cost of living emergency and many vulnerable people living in poverty, and they must be commended for this.”