Last week saw the official launch of a community based publication highlighting some of the work that Building Ballysally Together, the local community group, has done in recent years to make their estate a safe and welcoming area for everyone to enjoy.
The community group also unveiled two new murals that were reimaged in the estate, bringing total of 10 murals that have been reimaged in recent years.
The Ballysally Estate has been transformed following a television programme that focused on negative issues in the area. This ‘wake-up’ call spurred residents and local authorities to act, and the estate is now almost unrecognisable from the bleak picture portrayed several years ago.
The Manager for Building Ballysally Together, Adrian Eakin, welcomed everyone to the launch. He said:
“This has very much been a collaborative effort to produce the book and reimage the murals in the estate, and we are all very happy with what we’ve achieved so far.
“Thanks must go to the Housing Executive, residents, the churches and local representatives, including CRUN (Coleraine Rural and Urban Network) who have all supported us over the years to make Ballysally a better place for everyone.
"We now have lots of different projects across the estate that the community really enjoys.”
Our local Area Manager, Mark Alexander, was at the launch. He said:
“I am delighted Building Ballysally Together have published this book, it’s very well presented and an enjoyable read.
“With the new murals now displayed the estate is now a welcoming place that people want to live and work in.
"Our community grants and cohesion funding streams, along with support from other agencies in Coleraine, has helped transformed Ballysally to what it is today.
“Well done, you should all be very proud of what you’ve achieved over the years.”
Copies of the book: “Ballysally – A Spirited Community” are available at the Building Ballysally Together community hub, Danes Hill Road, Ballysally.
