On behalf of the Newmarket community development association I would like to thank a number of people for there help and support throughout 2013.  Our tidy towns volunteers committee members, FÁS employees and Denis Roche on behalf of cork county council.  The combined work of these helped to ensure that our mark went up again this year in the tidy towns competition.  It is very much the major project we will be undertaking next year to further improve our score and put together a detailed plan to help us achieve it.  I do hope we will be joined by some new faces a all are welcome to give up just an hour each week on behalf of our community.

The work on our town park reached a conclusion with the addition of the outdoor gym and the new benches in the playground area.  It was the culmination of an ambitious and expensive plan which included the upgrading of the playground, the walk way and the lights around it. We believe it is of great benefit to all age groups in Newmarket.  We are looking forward to completing work on the new pitch and putt course in conjunction with IRD Duhallow.  This is an exciting addition to our town and as with all projects undertaken in the last number of years would not be possible without the funding and support of IRD Duhallow.

I wish to thank Willie O’Keeffe and the FÁS employees for the great work they have carried out in getting the Christmas lights up again this year.  The town looks wonderful and festive as always; we greatly appreciate the hard work.  None of this would be possible without the financial support we receive from the Newmarket business people.  Their support in funding Christmas and St. Patrick’s day is vital to our committee.  They in turn deserve your support and I would urge you where possible to shop in Newmarket.

The final word of thanks goes to my fellow committee members because without them nothing would be achievable.  The past four years have been the most productive and satisfying period that I have enjoyed and none of it would have been possible without them.   All that is left to say is to wish everyone a very happy Christmas and a happy and healthy 2014. May Newmarket always rise and never fall.

Ollie Dugdale

Chairman of Newmarket Community Development Association