The future of up to 20 local organisations is unclear this week after Westmeath County Council confirmed that it will take no part in deciding what happens to Columb Barracks, Mullingar, the former army base that was closed in March 2012.
Westmeath GAA is the anchor tenant and have an agreed lease with the Department of Defence until the end of 2017, but that doesn’t offer any concrete guarantee and County Board Chairman, Sean Sheridan has expressed his disappointment that Westmeath County Council will not part-fund a feasibility study on the barack’s future. The study would cost €20,000, but Mr Sheridan feels it would represent good value for money as it would examine possible uses for the 24-acre facility and ensure the listed buildings are protected.
“A feasibility study is very important for the future of the facility and we are talking about a major benefit to the community of Mullingar and Westmeath, so it would be money well spent. It’s a prime facility, ideally located and it would be a real shame if it’s lost to the organisations it currently serves,” he said.
Another important meeting will take place on Thursday of this week, 8 December at 8pm to discuss the matter further. Some time ago the Columb Barracks Action Group was formed and they were hoping to have a proper plan for the future of the barracks, but without the support of Westmeath County Council, their task has been made extremely difficult.
“If we look at the service Columb Barracks provides for the youth of the town and the role it plays in taking people off the street and keeping them out of trouble, there’s no doubt that it is an invaluable asset. We looked for a 10-year lease on the barracks, but that wasn’t possible; we feel it should be for the community of Westmeath, serving the organisations who need it,” said Mr Sheridan, who called on all politicians to support the campaign to keep the facility open.
Westmeath GAA use Columb Barracks as a training centre and have two gymnasiums at the location. Among the many groups currently using the barracks is the Olympic Boxing Club, which has a big number of members and train five times a week. They have invested approximately €60,000 in their current location, but stand to lose it if the barracks is sold.
Apart from sports and recreation, the music hub also use the barracks, as does the Mullingar Eye Project and the Mullingar Youth Café.
None other than businessman Michael O’Leary suggested, at a recent breakfast meeting in Mullingar, that the barracks be sold to a private investor.
“Sell it to the private sector to someone with the brains and the imagination to develop it for housing or business; that’s the way you’re going to develop facilities like Columb Barracks,” he said.
The Department of Defence is unlikely to keep the barracks under the present arrangement due to the cost of heat, electricity and security.
