David Begg appointed Chair of Our Balbriggan Leadership Group

Fingal County Council has announced the appointment of Dr David Begg as the new Chairperson of the Our Balbriggan Leadership Group.

Since 2019, the €50million Our Balbriggan Rejuvenation Programme has been tasked with making huge progress on key infrastructure and social projects in the North Dublin town.

These include multi-million euro developments at Quay Street, the Harbour and beach, 2-4 Dublin Street, Bridge Street and Millpond Park, Railway Street and Station Plaza, allied with numerous community initiatives.

Dr Begg, a North County Dublin native, succeeds Professor Brian MacCraith, who departed the role to coincide with the current mid-project review stage.

The transformational project in Ireland’s youngest town was planned to 2025, the current review process extends this to 2030, creating further development and funding opportunities.

The ambitious vision contained in the Our Balbriggan programme was the result of an historic community engagement which saw more than 25% of residents outline their preferences for the future of the town.

Dr David Begg (2nd left) with members of the Our Balbriggan Leadership Group and Fingal County Council staff (l-r): Chris Harmon, Fiona Kavanagh, Supt Paul Franey, Fionnuala May, Fingal County Architect; John Quinlivan, Fingal Director of Services, Economic, Enterprise, Tourism and Cultural Development and Eilish Harrington. Pic: Coalesce.

Dr Begg is Chairperson of the Workplace Relations Commission and a former General Secretary of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions and CEO of Concern Worldwide.

He is Chair of the Mater Hospital and Pensions Authority.

He has also been a director of the Central Bank, a governor of the Irish Times Trust, a non-executive director of Aer Lingus and a member of the National Economic and Social Council.

Dr Begg, also an adjunct professor at Maynooth University’s Institute of Social Sciences, said he was excited about his new role in Balbriggan.

“It is an honour to have been asked to chair the Our Balbriggan Leadership Group,” he said.

“Immense progress has been made to date and I look forward to ensuring the completion of the transformation envisaged in the Our Balbriggan Rejuvenation Programme.”

Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Adrian Henchy, said the Our Balbriggan Project remained in safe hands under Dr Begg.

“I thank Dr Begg for taking on this critical role as we move to the next stage of the project and am sure his expertise across a number of sectors will prove invaluable,” he said.

Chief Executive of Fingal County Council, AnnMarie Farrelly, said the authority was delighted Dr Begg had come onboard.

“I have no doubt that David Begg, with his skillset and wealth of experience, will have an enormously positive impact on Balbriggan,” she said.

“There has been huge progress to date and I look forward to further outcomes which will have an incredibly positive impact.

“The Our Balbriggan Rejuvenation Programme will benefit the people of the town, ensuring a great place to live, work visit and do business.”