Glengarriff playground is restored to former glory after swings' theft

By Louise McCarthy

BANTRY Gardaí are continuing investigations into an ‘unfortunate’ crime at a Glengarriff playground with involved the children’s swings being stolen.

Glengarriff residents, following a long campaign for renovations, have expressed relief that swings stolen by raiders are now replaced.

Community members in Glengarriff, including local woman Katie Hourihan, lobbied extensively with local politicians,in a bid to get old equipment replaced at the playground.

Glengarriff playground had received €45, 000 in Clár funding towards the facility, in addition to Cork County Council grants of €31,000, to replace existing equipment, make the area wheelchair accessible, and generally enhance the facility.

However, just days after the new playground equipment was installed, in February last, the swings were stolen, leaving people devastated. The swings are now replaced since last week. 

Ms Hourihan said: ‘I am delighted to see it up and running again. It is such a lovely playground. The old equipment had become dangerous.’

After almost two months of waiting, the playground is fully functioning again, with funding coming from Castletownbere Municipal District for the new swings.

A Garda spokesperson in Bantry Garda Station said: ‘It was an unfortunate incident, but we have no reports of it happening elsewhere. We are continuing to investigate. We have no updates.’

The first playground in Glengarriff was developed over a decade ago in memory of the late Susan Murphy, a well-known parent and businessperson in the community.