Western People,    June 9, 2004   Front page

Mayo's new city idea
hijacked by Munster

PLANS put forward some years ago to build a new and beautiful city in East Mayo have been hijacked by interests who are pressing to have the new city in Munster.

Galway-based, William A. Thomas proposed the East Mayo location to Government in 2000 and he says that to date more than 4,500 articles have been written about the proposal all over the world.

As well, he says, that some 100,000 people have expressed an interest in the new city by putting their names on a list for houses and some 1,345 major companies have expressed an interest in setting up in a new city.

William A. Thomas is now saying that interests in the South West have hijacked the plan and are putting forward the idea the new city should be built in Munster, in a location between Cork and Limerick.

This has annoyed Mr Thomas who says it is the wrong location for a new city.

He points out that several things are important in building a new city. Firstly, it must have international access such as an international airport close by, secondly it must be at least 800-1000 feet above sea level and, thirdly, given that Ireland is on track to have an all-Ireland government within the next 25 years, it must be located at least in the centre part of the country and not in the South in West Cork.

Mr Thomas adds that given the dire warnings about the gulf stream slowing down, NASA and other scientists have warned that Ireland's temperature could go well below -40 degrees centigrade, so any new city must be a thermal-proofed city.

He says this proposal must be put out to international tender for design, for engineering, and for financing.

He adds that it must be a beautiful city and not reflect what has gone wrong with Irish cities today.

"You will always get crime where you have ghettoes. Any new city must incorporate excellent schooling, excellent social infrastructure and job opportunities for all," he adds.

He proposes that the new City of the Sacred Heart be made a district as opposed to being within the domain of Mayo County Council.

He hopes the government would consider moving out of Dublin, given their evident desire to decentralise, and move into the new city.

There were wider possibilities also. The EU could move part of its operation to the new city and it was very possible the UN would move lock, stock and barrel out of New York to a new city in a neutral country.

Mr. Thomas insists the new city must be built and the only place for it is in East Mayo.

He hopes the people of the west and, especially those politicians who say they want to represent the west and want to see full employment and a quality of life better than in the US will now come forward and support the project.