Graffiti ‘destroying’ Ballina military barracks

CONCERN has been expressed over graffiti being drawn on Ballina military barracks.

The facility has had graffiti drawn on its walls since it reopened as Ballina Innovation Quarter, which recently welcomed its first tenants.

The monthly meeting of Ballina Municipal District heard that CCTV and signs have also been vandalised at the facility.

The former military barracks was repurposed as a commercial premises after receiving in over €8 million in funding from the Urban Regeneration Development Fund and the Outdoor Public Space Scheme.

Cllr John O’Hara sad it was ‘sad’ to see graffiti occurring at the barracks after it benefitted from such a substantial investment.

“It’s probably one of the finest projects that was done in Connacht, and to see them coming in and destroying it, it’s not fair,” said the Fine Gael councillor.

Robbie Maguire, Executive Architect with Mayo County Council, said that the graffiti had been sprayed at the location ‘over couple of weekends’ but seemed to have stopped.

Mr Maguire hoped that the problem would not escalate as more new tenants move into the facility.