Donegal county councillor Michael Mac Giolla Easbuig has argued that the now derelict AIB in Gaoth Dobhair now belongs to the people of the community as it was the people who bailed out the bank.
Twenty people were in attendance at a meeting organised by Councillor Mac Giolla Easbuig on Saturday 27th August in Ionad Naomh Pádraig, Dobhar. He organised the meeting to give local people an opportunity to recommend uses for the AIB building in Gaoth Dobhair, should the bank gift it to the community.
In a very interesting meeting, a number of proposals were put forward for the building, including a youth drop-in centre, a wellness centre, a family resource centre and a co-operative venture to avail of the tourism opportunities offered by the Wild Atlantic Way.
There were a number of objections to these proposals as well as support and one declaration of interest in purchasing the building as an investment from a member of the community.
Among those present was Pearse Doherty TD, who revealed that he had already had a number of conversations with the CEO of Allied Irish Banks concerning the building in Gaoth Dobhair and that a further meeting between himself and the North West Director of AIB was imminent.
There will be a further meeting of the group when the committee hears back from the AIB regarding the bid of €1 made by councillor Mac Giolla Easbuig for the €110,000 building.
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