After more than a quarter of century of planning, fundraising and contention, building will finally start in the leisure centre in the Canon’s Field in Mitchelstown next week. The Avondhu can exclusively reveal that MMD Construction Ltd., based in Farmer’s Cross outside Cork City, have secured the contract for the Sports and Leisure Centre.

Chairman Ben Lynch acknowledged how long people have been waiting for this project to become a reality, but he affirmed that it will be up and running within a year.

“This is good news for all in Mitchelstown. Undoubtedly, the town could do with a boost and the additional activity created initially by the construction jobs, and later by the presence of a multi-purpose sports and leisure centre in the town centre will hopefully encourage further investment,” Mr Lynch said.

ENTERPRISE CENTRE

Meanwhile, the Mitchelstown Enterprise Centre, to be located in the former EMF building on Dublin Hill, is now set to be taken over by Mitchelstown Forum by September after a funding boost of €279,750 from the Cork County Council Economic Development Fund was announced this week.

Forum chairman, Liam O’Doherty said that to his knowledge, the enterprise centre in the only North Cork project to benefit from the fund.

“We are two years bidding for this and now we have all of our ducks in a row and we are ready to sign the contract and purchase the former EMF building,” he said.

The chairman said that they want to enter the building without huge borrowings and emphasised that while the community fundraising is going very well and they have met their commitment to the council, they would welcome any further contributions.