This Friday will see the official opening of Castlemahon’s new 6,850 sq. ft. purpose-built community hall, which is in the centre of the village adjacent to the National School.
It is the culmination of three years’ work led by local volunteers who worked with local development company West Limerick Resources to secure almost half a million euro in grant aid.
Speaking in advance of the launch, Secretary of the Feohanagh Castlemahon Hall Committee Brendan Normoyle thanked everyone who helped in the construction and fundraising efforts, acknowledging the parishioners of Feohanagh/Castlemahon and surrounding areas for their very generous donations as well as a number of local businesses who have supported the project quite significantly. He also thanked builder Donie Nolan and engineer Seamus Lynch for all their work during the construction phase as well as that of the voluntary committee along with Limerick County Council and the JP McManus Fund which provided funding for the project.
Mr Normoyle also thanked West Limerick Resources for their help and guidance in preparing their application for LEADER funding and for providing a grant of just over €499,000 for the construction. The hall is now available to all members of the community including the local drama group Feohanagh Castlemahon Players, the local Irish dance school, the ICA, Community Games and other local sporting organisations, the Development Association, youth drama groups and many others, including travelling drama and musical society groups. In addition its situation next to the 181-pupil national school will mean easy access for the school’s PE classes and other activities which the school cannot currently cater for in its existing facility.
The manager of West Limerick Resources, Shay Riordan, congratulated the community and went on to explain: “West Limerick Resources has invested a huge amount of effort, time and finances over recent years to provide a network of modern community centres which are bright, attractive, high quality and meet the needs of local communities. Feohanagh Castlemahon Hall is the latest of these, receiving our largest grant under the current programme.”
The hall will be officially opened at 7pm this Friday September 19th by the local parish priest, Fr John Duggan, followed by a Mass in the hall and a community get together with light refreshments. As the launch coincides with Culture Night, Draíocht and Killeedy’s All Ireland winning Grupaí Ceol will also perform. All are welcome.