MICRO TRACK: Tom Collins (Moloney Construction) and Jerry Griffin at the Killarney Micro Track construction launch with young club members of Killarney Valley Athletic Club. Also included are: Leonard Moran (Quantity Surveyor), John Hickey (Hickey Design & Associates), Linda Russell, Jean Courtney, Sean O'Sullivan (Chairman Kerry Community Games), Tom Doherty and Cathal O'Brien (Killarney Micro Track Chairman). Picture: Eamonn Keogh

By Sean Moriarty

Community loan finance group Clann Credo is the latest organisation to lend its support to the Killarney Micro Track project.

Construction is expected to start in June and last week Tom Collins of Moloney Construction signed the work contract with project officials.

The group behind the project are still a few thousand euros shy of the €480,000 total and will in the next few weeks launch a series of final fundraising drives to meet the shortfall including the raffling of a vintage tractor in association with the Killarney Valley Classic Vintage Club.

However, it will take some time to gather the remaining funds and construction would not be possible without Clann Credo steeping in with a bridging loan.

Clann Credo is a social enterprise that provides loans to community organisations, charities and social enterprises on terms and conditions that may not be available to them commercially.

“The group discussed in January, that partial construction to save on cost wouldn’t have been permitted by grant rules and abandoning of the project would have been an incredible disappointment,” Jeremiah Griffin, Project Coordinator, said.

“Then taking the courageous decision of building now was the only path to take. However, we need the support of the community to help raise the rest to continue.”

Construction will start on June 24 and is expected to be complete by early September.