Parents get green light for 'Adventure Land' in memory of little Annabel
A couple aiming to set up a play centre and pet farm in honour of the memory of their toddler daughter who died six years ago have received approval for their plans from Westmeath County Council.
Annabel Loughlin passed away in 2018 following an accident at her home in Delvin, and in September of this year, Annabel’s parents, former Westmeath hurler Enda Loughlin and his wife Eileen, submitted plans for the development of Annabel’s Adventure Land on family-owned land at Gaulmoylestown, Knockdrin.
The development is to consist of an educational play area with sensory rooms, a coffee shop, pet farm, outdoor play area, astroturf area, ferry walk, car parking and an upgraded site entrance.
In the application to Westmeath County Council, the architects representing the Loughlins, O’Halloran and Rooney Architects Ltd of Mullingar, said that the project was intended to avail of the EU Just Transition Fund under the Regeneration Tourism and Placemaking Scheme.
“With Eileen engaged in the teaching profession and Enda in farming and construction, they sought a means by combining their expert fields in creating a development for children with numerous activities for play and learning. By creating this development, they not only preserve Annabel’s memory but provide an amenity and facility not only to the locality of Mullingar but much further beyond,” said architect Ronan O’Halloran.
Mr O’Halloran explained that the centre was intended to provide a means by which children can “learn through play” while also enjoying a memorable day with family and friends, while the astroturf pitch was intended to serve as an amenity to the Adventure Land development, and also as an amenity available to the general Mullingar, Westmeath area.
“The idea and concept for the development is unique and no other similar development exists in the general Mullingar, Westmeath area,” Mr O’Halloran said, adding that the concept was a fine example of how “farm diversity” can be best employed.
“It should serve as a much welcomed amenity to the area and enable Eileen and Enda to exercise their expertise in order to provide a children’s activity facility which is unique, while also enabling both Eileen and Enda an opportunity to preserve the memory of their daughter Annabel in such a fine manner for the benefit of many other children,” he said.