Minister says this Tipperary town's new park and playground are among best in the country

There was a large attendance in Newport this Monday for the official opening of the €2m Newport Town Park by Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage Darragh O’Brien.

Planning for the development commenced in 2014 with strong representations by the local community highlighting the need for a playground in Newport.

The site at Mulkear View, which comprised 3.9 hectares (9.7 acres) and included five practically complete and six partially complete semi-detached houses, was acquired in 2016. This site enabled the delivery of both the town park and playground and the Mulkear View Housing Estate.

Cllr Ger Darcy, Cathaoirleach of Tipperary County Council, welcomed the Minister to Newport.

He paid tribute to the design ream, Nic de Jong Associates and the Contractors, Sole Sports & Leisure for the quality of the facility provided.

“I also welcome the attention to accessibility and the provision of specific items such as the wheelchair trampoline, the parent and baby swing and the sensory equipment. The environment, too, has not been forgotten with elements that will assist in relation to biodiversity - the wetland area, the orchard area and the extensive planting,” said Cllr Darcy.

Cllr John “Rocky” McGrath, Cathaoirleach of Nenagh Municipal District, remembered the turning of the sod for the facility in July 2020 during the pandemic.

“While we had to keep our distance from each other on that day, that did not take from our pride in seeing the first steps taken in the delivery of the project on the ground. Now we see those steps being brought to conclusion,” he said.

Joe MacGrath, Chief Executive of Tipperary County Council, thanked the Department for the provision of €500,000 funding from the Limerick Hinterland Fund in recognition of the proximity of Newport to Limerick.

He thanked all involved in the delivery of project including staff members Marcus O’Connor, Barry Murphy, John Cass, Paul Keane, Rosemary Joyce and Liam Shinners.

Mr MacGrath also acknowledged the support of the Playground Committee, the Tidy Towns Committee and the residents of Mulkear View.

Minister O’Brien praised the quality of the development and said he had not seen any other that brought together such a variety of elements.

“I don’t know if there is any better in the country,” he said.

Minister O’Brien praised the members and executive of Tipperary County Council and said that Tipperary was known for delivery of quality projects.

He referenced, in particular, the track record of the County Council in exceeding their targets under the Housing Programme.

The Town Park was blessed by Fr John O’Keeffe, PP, Newport.

Cllr Fiona Bonfield made a presentation of bouquets of flowers to Breda Lenihan who had campaigned for many years for a playground and to Ms Joyce, District Administrator.

Following the opening, Minister O’Brien visited Newport Courthouse and Bridewell for which a feasibility study is currently being developed for their future use.