Foreword from the CCDA

Since the winding up of the previous Community Council, (which had been in existence for ten years), in February 2012, the officers and committee members of the Community Development Association have been working diligently, not only to improve and progress existing amenities but also to bring additional facilities to Corofin village and the surrounding hinterland. We have to acknowledge the work carried out by the previous community council members. Projects undertaken at that time included townland signs, campaigns to push out the speed limit signs, provide better street lighting and improvements to the footpaths, etc. They also left us the legacy of the annual Duck Race.

Up till now, most of our work has been guided by the results of a parish-wide survey, carried out in 2011. The provision of the Canon Oliver Hughes Park, with its high-quality playground, tarmac walkway, playing field, basketball area and park benches with seating, achieved some of the priorities listed in that survey. During this time, we have used the CCDAas a means to apply for grant aid from various bodies, such as Galway County Council, Galway Rural Development and other government agencies. Works carried out along the main road through the village, with pedestrian crossings, bridge safety features, improved and additional street lighting, new footpaths, road re-surfacing, etc. are testament to the commitment of the team and the above local agencies to these improvements.

However, the work does not stop now. Rather, it must and will continue. With Galway City ever-expanding and the cost of housing and property sky-rocketing in the suburbs, the direction that the CCDAtakes over the next few years will be important for our village and the quality of life of the people living here. With this in mind, following a tender process, we employed Alan Hill Tourism Development Ltd. to carry out a feasibility study of the village and the surrounding hinterland and to develop a Corofin Community Development plan. I want to thank Alan Hill and John Ruddle for their leadership and commitment to this task over the past 6 months. We are indebted to Galway Rural Development, under the Leader Programme of the Department of Rural and Community Development, for funding the major part of this project.

It is my hope that you will find the results and recommendations of this study to be both interesting and motivating. Many people across the community, as well as our local politicians and council officials, have been consulted, either as part of a joint focus group or on an individual basis. This is a community plan and we rely on your support and vision to implement what we see as the priority issues therein, some of which are glaringly obvious. Your feedback will be most welcome and indeed an essential part of the next stages. This document provides us with a huge opportunity to shape the Corofin we want for ourselves, for our children and, indeed, for our grandchildren.

Finally, I take this opportunity to thank the members of the CCDAofficer board: Sean Kelly, (Vice-chair), Chris Newell, (Secretary), Dave Dempsey, (Treasurer), Catherine Silke, (Assistant Treasurer), Samantha Kilkelly and Mary Rodgers (PRO and Social Media Manager), Bill Ryan (Safety Officer). Mile Buiochas for the time and effort you put into everything you do.

John McDonagh