Town Team looking for new players

A Cavan based group is set to take the town’s future into their hands by hosting an open workshop to receive the public’s input.

The Cavan Town Team will hold the event in the Farnham Arms Hotel in Cavan on February 29 at 8pm.

Highlighting the importance of the event, chairperson of the town team Martin Connolly explained: “We’re having an open evening for people to come in and to show them what our plans are.

“If anybody wants to join the group” and “if people have any ideas they'd like to see pursued in the future", Martin is welcoming them to the event.

The Cavan Town Team was set up by the Cavan County Council a number of years ago to “try and bring ideas and funding for projects around the town,” the chairman explains.

“A few things have been in the pipeline for a couple of years. What we want to do is let the people of the town know what’s happening and let them know that funding is available for different projects and see if people have different ideas and what they want to see done around the town," outlined Martin.

According to the chairman, “funding is coming from different departments” and facilitating great progress on projects like the greenway in town and the highly-anticipated Abbeylands project.

Martin explains the team has aspirations to add a boardwalk through town to allow the greenway to loop through Cavan Town, as well as an upgrade on the Dublin Road into Cavan Town.

“We’re trying to get the main road coming into Cavan Town, from Tracta Motors all the way down upgraded a wee bit. It’s not in good condition at the moment,” said the Town Team chair.

Martin outlines that works on that stretch of road and on Breffni Park are pending, and his hope is that the whole stretch will be upgraded at that time.

“A bit of life” needs to be injected into that area, he says, through opening new businesses and upgrading the aesthetics in the area. Martin is hoping the public input will help shape these plans.

Within the town core, the Town Team is focusing on upgrading protected railings which run along Farnham Street.

Martin explained the railings are “all different colours and different shapes".

He added: "So we’re trying to get all that preserved and painted the same colour.”

The group also secured funding of €50,000 to upgrade the area around Swellan Lake to make it more accessible to walkers, fishermen and even those wishing to use the water for sports and leisure.

The team has had a successful impact on the town in the past number of years, bringing a number of plans to fruition.

“They were involved in getting funding for Con Smith Park a few years ago and all the seating around the Market Square and the Post Office - the Town Team got funding for all of that as well. We’re involved in getting funding for the Christmas lights every year as well. We’re continuously involved in projects to try and enhance the town and make it better for people.”

If you or your club have ideas for Cavan Town you wish to present to the Town Team, join their meeting in the Farnham Arms Hotel and have your voice heard.