The community within the parish of Kilshannig in North Cork is this week busy planning the refurbishment of their existing community hall after receiving funding of just over €145,000 from Avondhu Blackwater Partnership. The funding is being provided as part of the Leader Rural Development Programme 2007 – 2013.
Welcoming the funding, local councillor John Paul O’ Shea (Ind) who is also a member of the Project Evaluation Team of Avondhu Blackwater Partnership said “this is marvellous news for the parish of Kilshannig and in particular for the villages of Glantane and Lombardstown who use the hall practically on a daily basis. The parish like many other parishes throughout the county has grown considerably in recent years with a significant number of young families choosing to live in the area. The refurbishment of Kilshannig Community Hall will only enhance the community life in the area and will also help to address the current identified needs of the area”.
The hall which is in excess of 4,500 square feet will feature a new entrance hall, foyer, ladies, gents and disabled toilets, kitchen, office, dressing rooms, multi purpose room and main hall. The hall which has a long association with in excess of 20 active community and voluntary groups will all benefit greatly from this refurbishment with new and enhanced facilities at their disposal.
Micheál Casey, Chairperson of the Kilshannig Community Centre Development Association which is the voluntary group leading this innovative project said “I would like to take this opportunity to thank Avondhu Blackwater Partnership and in particular Niall Walshe, Development Officer with Avondhu Blackwater Partnership for his dedication and patience with us in developing and bringing this project forward to today. We would never be able to do such a refurbishment without their financial assistance and hands on support which we are very grateful for. I would also like to pay tribute to the officers within Kilshannig Community Centre Development Association, Ronnie Dunne, Der Cronin, John K. Sheehan and the wider committee for taking on such a huge project during this difficult economic climate and for assisting with the process to date . I would also like to thank Cork County Council for their financial contribution towards the refurbishment. Works will commence shortly on the refurbishment and we will do our best to keep the disruption of services at the hall to a minimum during this time”.
Joe Singleton, DJS Engineering & PM Services, Micheál Casey, Chairman of Kilshannig Community Centre Development Association, Niall Walshe, Development Officer, Avondhu Blackwater Partnership, Ronnie Dunne, Secretary, Kilshannig Community Centre Development Association, Der Cronin, Assistant Treasurer, Kilshannig Community Centre Development Association & Cllr. John Paul O’ Shea at the signing of the contract for capital funding for Kilshannig Community Hall which will shortly undergo major refurbishment works.
