Former soldiers who were based at the Columb Barracks in Mullingar have pleaded with the Westmeath County Board to allow them access to the facility.

The barracks was home to the members of Irish Army for over a century until it was closed down last year. Since then, Westmeath GAA has done a deal with the Department of Defence to lease the premises for a number of years to use as their centre of excellence.

The Mullingar Irish United Nations Veteran's Association (IUNVA) wrote to the Westmeath County Board seeking permission to use the premises for their meetings two months ago, but they have had no reply from the GAA executive.

Westmeath GAA chairman has stated that if the IUNVA contact them through the proper channels then they are willing to sit down and discuss the matter, but IUNVA member Eddie Robinson stressed to the Westmeath Topic that they are waiting to hear back from the county board.

Robinson said: "It's the ex-soldiers that put Columb Barracks on the map and now we can't seem to get access to the facilities, which is more than a little ironic." Tweet

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