We add new stories and updates every few weeks. Or as often as we can.

Blessington Youth Hub

Through our hard work with many parties involved

A Foróige youth hub is now operation Blessington Village. Full details here in this link, there were so many parties involved a great community driven initiative , thank you one and all.

https://mcgreals.ie/blog-post/new-foroige-youth-centre-set-to-open-in-blessington-town-centre/

Letter to Simon Harris

Letter to An Taoiseach Simon Harris TD regarding Imminent Eviction of our Ukrainian neighbours from their Homes in The Avon, Blessington

The text of this letter can be found at the link below. This was also sent to An Tánaiste, Michael Martin, TD, Jennifer Whitmore, TD, John Brady TD, Edward Timmons TD.

https://blessington.ie/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Taoiseach-Simon-Harris-1.pdf 

Statement on The Downshire Hotel

A number of local residents has approached the Forum regarding rumours surrounding the Downshire Hotel.

The Forum has received confirmation from an official of the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth that there are no arrangements or agreements in place for the usage of the Downshire Hotel site in Blessington as an accommodation centre for International Protection applicants at this time.

The site was offered to the Department of Integration for the accommodation of Ukrainian Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection; however this was rejected by the Department.

Should we be made aware of any further information or updates in the future, the Forum will keep the local community updated.

Local Area Plan for Blessington

Pre-Draft Consultation

Wicklow County Council has announced that the Pre-Draft consultation process for the new Blessington Town Plan will commence on Wednesday the 21st of February and will run until Wednesday the 3rd of April. The Council has prepared a new online consultation portal.

The portal sets out the key topics that the plan will address.  However, general submissions can also be made online by members of the public through this portal.

You may also make a submission in writing to Blessington LAP, Administrative Office, Planning Department, Wicklow County Council, County Buildings, Station Road, Wicklow Town, A67 FW96.

A Drop-In Public Information Day will be held on Friday 1st March in the Coimin Centre, Blessington from 10.00 to 13.00 and from 16.00-19.00 and will be attended by the Plan Team. 

This is the beginning of the long-awaited plan for our town and will give everyone a chance to put forward their views and submissions.  Please do so.

The portal can be contacted here,
https://blessington-wicklow.hub.arcgis.com/

New Park Development

Blessington & District Forum would like to advise the community of Blessington that the development of the new park is now open.

The community park has been a long term target of the BDF and has been ongoing goal since the late 90s / early 2000s. Its taken a long time, but the BDF have been to the forefront in keeping this on the agenda within WCC, within County & Local Development plans, Developer plans, and have been onsite on a number of occasions to ensure the park areas are the best they can be.

Phase1 of the park has delivered landscaping, tennis courts, green play areas, walkways, bowling courts, and a fully accessible playground and more…

Phase 2 of the park, tied in with the newest planning application, and will deliver large untouched areas, with walkways and mutliple possibilities for the local community once it’s handed over.

The BDF will vist the site once again in February and should be in a position to provide more updates at that time. In the short term, please remember Phase 2 is an active construction site… but when finished we will have 30+ acres of community park for the local community.

Dame Ninette De Valois

On Sunday July 1st 2018 at noon, on Main Street of Blessington, a Memorial to Ninette de Valois will be unveiled to remind all who pass of her wonderful legacy and special place among the community of Blessington and West Wicklow.

Following this ceremony there will be an afternoon of Music and Dance Festivities in the Town Square with guest musicians and dancers to celebrate the spirit of Dance infused into Ninette’s soul throughout her young formative years as a child of Blessington.

This wonderful seated area and sign unvelling, has been very well received, thank you one and all involved.