Templeglantine Community Centre will be officially reopened on Monday next following a complete refurbishment undertaken by the local community with the support of grant aid of over €220,000 from West Limerick Resources. Built in the mid-seventies with the help of voluntary labour and the assistance of ANCO (now FÁS), the centre known locally as Halla Inse Bhán has been the focal point for all community activity for nearly forty years, hosting the local award winning Comhaltas group, weekly music, singing and dance classes and various con-certs along with fitness classes, community mee-tings and PE classes for the local school. However, over time the centre had fallen into disrepair, spurring the local Com-munity Council to initiate a full upgrade and breathe new life into the tired old building at the heart of the small West Limerick village.
“Halla Inse Bhán has always been very important to the local community; however, the building had deter-iorated in recent years,” explained group PRO Tadhg O’Maolcatha. “The severe frost of a few winters ago created havoc with the heating system and there was an urgent need for proper insulation of the building to conserve energy and cut down heating costs along with a range of other essential upgrades to make the place a more comfortable facility for its many users.”
The community approa-ched West Limerick Resources for support towards a phased redev-elopment of the facility and was awarded a grant of over €98,000 in 2011 to remove the existing front entrance and construct a new entrance, replace all internal and external doors and windows, install a new electrical system along with a new heating and plumbing system.
Having completed this essential structural work, the committee then began to look at phase two of the refurbishment which included a new insulated roof over the rear lean-to, complete refurbishment of the toilets, new stage cur-tains, lighting and sound system, installation of a new kitchen and upgrading of on-site parking facilities. In 2012 West Limerick Resources awarded the community a second grant of just over €122,000 for this work which is now fully complete.
The community will celebrate the official re-opening of the centre on Monday next July 1st at 7pm, with music from the local Comhaltas group plus food and a tour of the facility. All are welcome.