Funding request for Áras Inis Gluaire centre in north Mayo

Áras Inis Gluaire, the community hub in Belmullet, needs a capital injection 20 years after opening.

Manager Ian McAndrew had a modest wish list when the venue hosted the monthly Westport-Belmullet Municipal District meeting.

The building's boiler has given up and a new system will cost €22,000, and it's hoped to change the venue's lighting over to LED, he explained.

He asked councillors that a funding application would be looked on favourably.

Áras Inis Gluaire is a unique venue, operating as an arts centre and hosting council, courts, Udaras na Gaeltachta and other community services all under the one roof, and facilities include an auditorium and recording studio. Western Care service users and the National Learning Network are among the users of rooms there.

On local issues, Mr. McAndrew spoke about the great work being done by Clodagh Gleeson in the housing office and the voluntary facilitators who are assisting home owners affected by pyrite, many of them in the Erris area.

He also commented on the need to bring people back living on the main street. Where once the upstairs were full, there are now only four people there.

Some kind of scheme should be looked at, he told councillors.