Castlemahon will welcome construction this spring on a purpose-designed and built community centre thanks to the confirmation of approval this week of a grant of almost €500,000 from West Limerick Resources.
This week’s announcement follows over two years work by a group of local volunteers who have been working closely with West Limerick Resources and other stakeholders to secure the grant of €499,670.29 under the Rural Develop-ment Programme 2007-2013. Grant aid having been approved by the board of West Limerick Resour-ces in September 2012, confirmation came through this week that the Depart-ment of Environment, Community and Local Government has also sanctioned a half million euro grant. It is estimated that the entire project will cost in the region of €656,487.
The new 6,850 sq. foot community centre will be built in the heart of Castle-mahon village, on a greenfield site adjacent to the primary school. Incor-porating a 312 seat hall, performance stage, fully equipped catering kitchen, dining area, three meeting rooms and toilet facilities, it will be used by a wide range of groups in the community. Its situation on a site next to the primary school will also allow easy access for the school’s PE classes and other activities which the school cannot currently cater for in its existing building.
Responding to this week’s announcement, Feohanagh Castlemahon Hall Commit-tee Secretary Brendan Normoyle said, “We are extremely grateful and delighted to have received this approval and everyone involved is now excited about moving onto the next step and starting to build the hall. This facility will have a tremendous impact on the entire community and will open up a whole range of new opportunities for us.”
Shay Riordan Manager of West Limerick Resources commended the group for their vision and hard work to date stating, “This facility will not only serve the needs of the community now but also for years to come. Feohanagh Castle-mahon is a vibrant and active community and this facility will fill the one void which has existed to date – a focal point in which to bring together all the different strands and groups that make up its diverse community life and spirit. It is very encouraging to see how the whole community has come behind this project and helped drive it forward. And it is this same community spirit which I am sure will see this facility grow and develop for many years to come.”
Local Fine Gael T.D. Patrick O’Donovan paid tribute to all those in the community who had led the initiative at local level and he praised their professionalism and commitment as volunteers, which was mentored, supported and helped in every way by the board and staff members of West Limerick Resources Ltd. (See Page 35).