UPDATE: Ardara buildings could be an art centre or a social centre

Funding has been granted for the purchase of buildings which have been lying idle in the centre of Ardara.

It is envisaged that these buildings may be used as an arts centre and a facility where local people can have social gatherings. 

Local Councillor Anthony Molloy said he is proud to announce the purchase and said he looks forward to seeing the buildings being developed. He added a lot of work went into planning and the acquisition of the houses which he said were formerly a clothes and grocery shop. 

The building was purchased through the Building Acquisition Measurement (BAM) a fund which has been ring-fenced by the Government to purchase derelict buildings. 

The buildings were checked last year by an architectural company. The process took over a week. Local people and businesses said they would like to see a social setting or an arts centre in the village.   

"These buildings will be developed into a social facility. People said they would like to see an arts centre or a place where people can come together.

"This type of funding (BAM) is difficult to secure because of deadlines and attention to detail. My thanks to Donegal County Council officials and our community group Awake Tourism whom I have worked closely with to get this project over the line. I would call on other community groups to avail of this funding," he said. 

The next step will be design and planning: "These kinds of things don’t happen overnight but if you work along the right lines you will get there. There is a fair amount of space in these buildings and a lot of work will have to be done on the buildings. We are delighted to have acquired them."