Progress urged on Ted Ponsonby memorial area in Letterkenny Town Park

A motion passed last year to develop an arts and performance area of Letterkenny Town Park in honour of the late musician Ted Ponsonby has not yet been delivered.

The motion was put forward by Cllr Jimmy Kavanagh last September. At a recent meeting of Letterkenny-Milford MD, Cllr Kavanagh urged the council to speed up the delivery of the project.

He asked “that the Council try to identify funding for the development of the arts and performance area of the town park, so that we can progress the naming of the area in honour of the late Ted Ponsonby as per my previously agreed motion.”

The Fine Gael councillor said there was “quite a lot of interest” in the project and that a community group had suggested fundraising.

Cllr Kavanagh urged the council to look at the Minor Tourism Works grant scheme as well as other possible funding sources. He suggested that it could be a winter project with a target of summer 2026 to open the performance area.

The motion was seconded by Sinn Féin Cllr Gerry McMonagle. He said it would be “a great honour” to name the entertainment area after Ted Ponsonby and the council should “pull out the stops” to deliver the project.

Director of Service Liam Ward Meeting told Cllr Kavanagh that the council would “explore all options” to fund the project.

“The naming of the area in honour of the late Ted Ponsonby will be progressed by the Corporate Directorate,” informed Christina O’Donnell, Community Development. “Community Development will seek to incorporate the development of a canopy for this area into a state of readiness, so that an application can be made when a suitable funding opportunity arises.”

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Ted Ponsonby was from Oldtown, Letterkenny. He was the son of the late Molly and Terry Ponsonby, and was a member of many bands including the Rascals, The Denver Show Band and the Famesuckers.

His late father Terry, along with uncles Willie, Eamon and Ina were members of the famous Ponsonby Showband.

Ted played with many singers over the years including Van Morrison, Frances Black, Kieran Goss, Tommy Fleming Dolores and Sean Keane, The Henry Girls, Arty McGlynn and Maura O'Connell.

Ted Ponsonby passed away in September 2023.