‘City’ Plans To Be Outlined
To EU Meeting
The man behind the ambitiously mooted 'City of the Sacred Heart' has been invited to further discuss his plans before a gathering of representatives from the EU Commission, Irish Government and Local Authorities.
During this discussion, Mr Tony Thomas - who is a leading figure behind the project - is scheduled to give a comprehensive breakdown on the scheme's grand-plan. Mr Thomas informed the Herald that Cllr Michael McGreal has organised the event to take place in The White House Hotel, Ballinlough on November 2nd.
Meanwhile, a public meeting detailing the plan's radical nature will be held in Ballaghaderreen on September 8th. It will provide an opportunity for the general public to familiarise themselves with the concept along with giving details of the city's location.
Highlighting this thinking behind the city, Mr Thomas explained that Ireland will not be able to accommodate the expected population boom in the coming years and the new city will cater for this upturn in demand. Also, the new city will help bring some of the State's economic boom to the West. "It [Celtic Tiger] is red hot in Dublin and in places like Galway and Cork," but he remarked that this economic up-turn in many places throughout the West "is very cold".
Already commitments totalling £20Billion have been pledged to develop the new city, Mr Thomas claimed. He added that one of the largest companies in the world, trying to get a European base, are very keen on the proposal.
Calling on the youth of the West to return to their homeland, Mr Thomas said: "We are working hard and what we are trying to do is to appeal to the young people - they are very talented."
Speaking to the Roscommon Herald, Mr Thomas said "if the West of Ireland is to hold its own" it must be able to recreate its population base. He added that the group promoting the scheme has called on four government departments to be decentralised to the city.
Denouncing people who "are trying to give this the kiss of death" before the plans have been put before the general public, Mr Thomas said that some of the comments made in relation to the project have been "very unfair and very untruthful".