The green light has been given for the construction of a sensory garden in Ballina.

At yesterday’s monthly meeting of Ballina Municipal District councillors unanimously supported a Part 8 Planning to allow the development to go ahead in the Tom Ruane Park, on the Sligo road in the town.

The sensory garden will offer a wide variety of sensory experiences, particularly for people with additional needs. It will include a number of hard and soft landscaping, planting, boundary treatments and surface-paving works. Construction is now due to get underway later this year.

The idea for the garden was first put forward by the FLOW Community Project, founded by Mayo senior footballer Padraig O'Hora and Ryan Calway.

The project has secured great local support and major fund raising events have been organised to make it a reality, including a “February Freeze” fund raiser in 2021 and a marathon cycle – with three locals cycling to Croagh Park when Mayo was in an all Ireland final against Tyrone.

Martin Devaney was one the cyclists and he was in the public gallery yesterday at the Ballina Municipal District meeting when the Part 8 planning was approved.

Afterwards he spoke to Midwest News Editor Teresa O’Malley about his delight with the result…