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THE Kenmare Hospital Action Group has warmly welcomed the commencement today (Wednesday) of construction of the new local community hospital. The Minister for Health James Reilly was due in Kenmare at lunchtime to turn the sod on the new €8 million 40-bed development but has had to postpone as cabinet meetings were rearranged due to the funeral of An Taoiseach Enda Kenny's mother.

Una Clinton O'Neill, spokesperson for the Kenmare Hospital Action Group said this week that they were delighted that their 356-year campaign had come to fruition."There was genuine fear over the last few months that the project would be delayed once again and worse still, that the existing hospital was under threat of closure. However, with Glenbeigh Construction now on site, we are satisfied that on this occasion, the new 40-bed hospital will be built for our community," Una Clinton O'Neill said.

The Hospital Action Group spokesperson thanked all those who had played their part over the years in securing the new hospital.

"A sincere word of thanks must go to the hard working members of the committee, in particular Michael Harrington and Richard Doran, who were part of the original group in 1976. Many others involved over this long campaign include Mary Fitzgerald, Maeve O'Sullivan, Mairead Doyle, local doctors, medical staff and many more. We would like to take this opportunity to praise the officials in the HSE and the Department of Health who were part of bringing this project to fruition," she said.

Una Clinton O'Neill also thanked the part played by local public representatives in securing the future of the hospital for Kenmare.

"To Senator Mark Daly, sincere thanks. His relentless efforts were critical to the success of this project by securing a legally-binding agreement between the HSE and the contractor prior to last year's budget. This was essential in ensuring the allocation of funding for the development, despite budget cuts and has allowed the hospital to go ahead. Thanks also to former TD, Breeda Moynihan Cronin, for her assistance to us and the project over the years," she said.

"Thank you, finally, to the local community.

"Their faith and support in this campaign over the last 36 years has encouraged us to continue, and has resulted in a new hospital facility for Kenmare."