Barracks will be sold unless council takes it over, says Department of Defence

Columb Barracks will be sold to the highest bidder unless Westmeath County Council take it over, according to a senior official from the Department of Defence.

This stark warning was issued by the principal officer at the department, Fred Bradley, at last Thursday night’s meeting on the future of the barracks.
Mr Bradley told the crowd at the meeting, which was held in the barracks, that the department was “willing” to listen to proposals for the future use of the site, but would prefer if these proposals came through the local authority.

Referring to Longford County Council’s purchase of Connolly Barracks in 2012 for €450,000, Mr Bradley said that unless the local authority or another statutory body plays a central role in any future arrangement, the barracks would be auctioned off.

Since the Department of Defence closed the barracks in 2012, the historic facility has been used by a variety or organisations including the Garda Síochána and Westmeath GAA.

The meeting was told that 23 different community groups, many of which had members present, are currently using the facilities. However, even at that, only a third of the 25-acre site is being used.

Deputy Robert Troy, who organised the meeting, and Deputy Peter Burke said that they would ask the department to postpone the sale of the barracks for six months, during which a feasibility study would be carried out on future uses for it.

Deputy Troy said that the government would have to listen to the views of the people of Mullingar when it comes to the future of Columb Barracks. “Many organisations have invested a huge amount of work into facilities in the barracks and now this government plan on selling the whole lot and taking it away from the town,” said Deputy Troy.

“I am calling on the taoiseach and the minister for defence to put a hold on the sale of Columb Barracks until a feasibility study can be carried out on the project.

“The people of Mullingar may not stand for such an important part of the town being taken away forever in order to make a quick buck for the government.”
Deputy Peter Burke said that the government is “very agreeable” to selling the barracks to Westmeath County Council for a “nominal fee”.

He added that the had been approached by a number of community organisations hoping to move in to the barracks but had been unable to do so due to the amount of red tape involved.

Cllr Ken Glynn suggested that the barracks would be the perfect location for an education campus. Noting that Mullingar Community College doesn’t have a gym or a sporting facility, he said that an education campus could be an “anchor” for the facility.

Senator Aidan Davitt said that the buildings in Columb Barracks are situated on around 10 acres of the 25-acre site. The department should consider selling the 15 acres that are undeveloped and the money should be ring-fenced for the development of the facility, he said.

“There would be a reasonable pot of money and it would push the whole thing forward,” he said.

Cllr Andrew Duncan said that the council has a role to play in the future of the barracks and that it was disappointing that a member of its executive did not attend the meeting. “It’s up to us (the county councillors) to make the executive listen.”

The cathaoirleach of the Mullingar Municipal District, Cllr John Shaw, said that the council will “not be found wanting” and will work with the community to secure the future of the barracks.

When contacted by the Westmeath Examiner, the council’s executive said that it had “no comment as this stage in relation to Columb Barracks”.