Fine Gael TD for Roscommon/South Leitrim, Frank Feighan, has applauded the efforts of the Cootehall Community Development Group for their great community spirit and imagination to develop the former station into a commemorative museum honouring the life and work of the writer John McGahern.

Mr Feighan said: "I wish the Cootehall Community Development Group well in their endeavours to turn this historic building into a fitting tribute to the rich legacy of John McGahern.

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"Clearly, Minister for the OPW, Brian Hayes TD, has recognised the merits of this ambitious project and I am delighted that Minister Hayes now will be handing over the former Garda Station to the community group on Tuesday, December 3rd.

"It is well known that John McGahern’s acclaimed first novel 'The Barracks' was inspired by his time in Cootehall. John's father was stationed as a sergeant at the Barracks in Cootehall and John, aged ten at the time, went to live there with his family following the premature death of their mother.

"The commemorative museum, envisaged by the local community development group, will no doubt attract thousands of visitors from here and all over the world who will be able to access the writings of this literary giant. I also welcome the group's plans to develop the living quarters of the barracks into a community meeting space."

(CD/IT)