Fingal County Council opens two new playgrounds in Balbriggan

Fingal County Council are delighted to announce the opening of two new playgrounds in Balbriggan.  The Bandstand playground near the Martello Tower and Quay Street playground were officially opened by Mayor of Fingal Cllr. Eoghan O’Brien in the company of Chief Executive AnnMarie Farrelly. The playgrounds got a joyous seal of approval from the enthusiastic children from St. Molaga’s National School on the day.  Also in attendance at the opening were members of the Balbriggan Playground Committee and local Councillors Tony Murphy and Gráinne Maguire and former Councillor Malachy Quinn, who were very involved with the project from the beginning.   

Fingal County Council recognizes the significant benefit of investing in children’s play as one of the important things we can do to improve children’s health and wellbeing.  The playgrounds were designed to provoke children’s imagination and fit into the landscape and resulted from extensive consultation and engagement with the local community.  The Bandstand Playground design has taken inspiration from its location overlooking Balbriggan harbour with a nautical theme including a replica of the iconic lighthouse and the Quay Street design has also taken inspiration from its location beside railway viaduct to inspire a railway themed playground.

Speaking at the launch Mayor of Fingal Cllr. Eoghan O’Brien said: “I am delighted to be back in Balbriggan launching these playgrounds after having launched the new town Skatepark late last year. These new play facilities are part of the response by Fingal County Council to address the deficit of infrastructure in Balbriggan.  It is wonderful to see the excitement of the children from St Molagas who are trying out the playground today.”

Local engagement is key to way Fingal County Council does business and provides services and the playgrounds were designed and developed with the support of the Playground Committee and following extensive engagement with the local community.  A representative from the Balbriggan Playground Committee welcomed the opening of the playgrounds and thanked the members of the committee for their commitment to the project over the years.

Chief Executive of Fingal AnnMarie Farrelly said: ““It is really a great pleasure to be here for the opening of these playgrounds and I would like to commend Kevin Halpenny and the Parks team for meeting the challenge of delivering these projects in the first 12 months of the Our Balbriggan Rejuvenation plan. Fingal County Council has had a particular focus on Balbriggan for a number of years and will continue to work to deliver infrastructure to meet the needs of the town and its young and diverse population.”

A commitment to improve the number of public play and exercise facilities in the town is one of the “20 things to achieve in 12 months” contained in the Balbriggan Rejuvenation plan.  These playgrounds and the Skatepark opened in late 2019 will provide safe places where children in Balbriggan can engage in fun and healthy outdoor activity.  The Council has committed significant capital funding for Balbriggan and strong progress has been made on plans for the Bremore Regional Park, the Fingal Coastal Way and cycling and pedestrian schemes for the Harry Reynolds Road.