merrion street

Mr. Brian Hayes, TD, Minister of State with special responsibility for the Office of Public Works (OPW) today (31 October 2013) officially handed over the keys of the former Garda Station in Ballymote for community use.

The Minister said, “It is my pleasure to be here today to hand over the keys of this former Garda Station to the local community. Back in March of this year, I announced my intention that community groups could submit expressions of interest on how, in the event that no other State use or sale is possible, their local group might utilise these assets. Today’s event is a great example of that enterprising community spirit, with the newly re-named ‘Municipal Building’ being handed over to Ballymote Tidy Towns & Tourism Ltd. for community use. I’m told that the main aims of the group will be to promote tourism, arts and culture within the region. I congratulate Peter Mullin and Noreen Cremin and all the residents of Ballymote and its environs for their sense of community and imaginative spirit and I’m sure that they will put the building to excellent use.”

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For further information or if you wish to interview Minister Hayes please contact

Colette Davis, OPW Press Officer at 046 942 6128, 087 947 5552 or colette.davis@opw.ie

Note to editors:

The former Ballymote Garda station is located on Lord Edward Street. The building is an Art Deco building which dates from 1931 and was designed by renowned Dublin Architectural partnership Beckett and Harrington, originally as a branch of the Munster and Leinster Bank. It was later acquired by the State for the use of An Garda Síochána until it closed in 2010 following the opening in September 2009 of the new Garda District headquarters in Ballymote.

The former Garda station will be licensed to Ballymote Tidy Towns and Tourism Ltd. for community use. They are a voluntary group with charitable status active in the Ballymote area since 1990. The Chairperson is Peter Mullin and the Secretary is Noreen Cremin. The main aim of the group is to provide a community facility for the promotion of tourism, arts and culture within the region. The group also aim to create and maintain employment through schemes such as the Rural Social Scheme funded by Sligo Leader. The former Garda station will now be known as the 'Municipal Building'.

A variety of activities / groups will be based at the property including:

Tourist Information Office

Art Exhibition Area

Historical and Literacy Group

Tidy Towns

Community Employment Scheme / Rural Social Scheme

Information Technology Programme

Activities for senior citizens and the youth of Ballymote