Gaa to sign long lease on columb barracks

Westmeath County Board is close to signing a 10-year lease on Columb Barracks.

County board chairman Sean Sheridan told the Westmeath Examiner that negotiations with the Department of Defence are “moving very positively” and that he expects the lease will be signed “very shortly”.

Westmeath GAA’s initial one-year lease on the former home of the 4 Field Artillery Regiment came to end in September and has been extended until the longer lease is signed in the coming weeks. Mr Sheridan says that the county board has been “inundated with sporting organisations looking to use the barracks”.

“Every sporting organisation in the locality wants to use it, that’s the reason why we are looking for the longer lease. We are the anchor tenant but it will benefit all Westmeath sporting people and groups,” said Mr Sheridan.
“Charitable groups can also come and use the facilities for events.”

At present all Westmeath GAA development squads, as well as a number of non-GAA sporting groups such as the Lakeside Wheelers cycling club, are using the barracks. Aside from restoring the playing pitch, the GAA won’t be developing any new facilities there in the foreseeable future.

“Whoever takes a room there can do it up themselves, the department have said that it’s allowed,” Mr Sheridan said.

The GAA chairman expects Mullingar District Court to move to the barracks while the town’s courthouse undergoes a multi-million euro refurbishment. He added that the county board would like people from outside the GAA community to join the Columb Barracks Development Committee.

“It would have been a shame if the barracks hadn’t been given to an organisation and hopefully it will give Mullingar and Westmeath a lift. There is going to be a lot of work to do, though. Hopefully everyone will put their shoulders to the wheel and people will come on to the committee. Everyone is welcome to give me a ring. We need help.”