Ballybeg, County Waterford

Ballybeg (Irish: Baile Beag) is a largely working class district in Waterford, Ireland. The area consists of four council housing estate - Ballybeg, Priory Lawn, Clonard Park and Ardmore Park, and a private housing estate, Glencarra, and is the largest single housing area in Waterford city, with a population of nearly 4,000.

As of 2007, the community was reported as being "approximately 750 houses". The community was originally created to provide low-income housing[1]

Location and access

Access to Ballybeg is available at the N25 junction outside the (now defunct) 'Waterford Crystal' factory, the N25 junction past the 'Hasbro' games factory, and the Ballybeg Link Road off the Kilbarry road .

Surrounding residential areas include Templar's Hall, Carraig an Aird, Cluain-a-Laoi and Meadowbank. There have been many complaints to public authorities by Ballybeg residents and the broader community regarding, among other issues, unauthorised dumping, in the vicinity.

The area of Ballybeg is situated within the wider Kilbarry area. This area was reputedly home to a priory of the Knights Templar and later became the Irishtown of Waterford. Many cities and large towns in Ireland have an area called Baile Beag (Small town) Baile Bocht (Poor town) i.e. 'Ballybock' in Dublin, Ceathrú Rua (Red-haired area) or simply "Irish Town".

Amenities

Ballybeg (or Bailebeag) is sometimes described as being like a village within Waterford city, with such facilities as a church (St. Saviour's), a primary school (St. Saviour's National School), 2 supermarkets, a takeaway, and a parish centre / sports hall. It also has several sporting organisations, including a GAA club, a soccer club and a boxing club, as well as being near to the Waterford Crystal "sports and social" centre, two other soccer clubs and Waterford City Rugby Club. Waterford United also play their home games very close by, in the Regional Sports Centre. The suburb also has a cemetery which is completed.

Local community groups are active in this area, which is home to one of the original Community Development Projects and also pioneered a joint venture between the local community and local industry in the LEDC which has already built a Creche and Community Sports Facility. The community also has a strong representative group called the Ballybeg Action Group which works for the improvement of facilities in the local community.

Ballybeg is also home to many successful sports and leisure clubs - boxing, soccer, hurling, gaelic and camogie are all played in the area. There is also a strong women's group.

Further reading

References

  1. ↑ Andrew MacLaran; Andrew McLaran, Vanda Clayton and Paula Brudell; Vanda Clayton; Paula Brudell (2007). Empowering communities in disadvantaged urban areas: towards greater community participation in Irish urban planning?. Combat Poverty Agency. pp. 153–. ISBN 978-1-905485-50-5.

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