Community Centre Refurbishment Works To Begin

The Urlingford Town Team is partnering with our local Parish to refurbish the current Community Centre (the former Parochial Hall) into a multipurpose space that will meet the needs of the entire community.

The Department of Rural and Community development awarded the UTT €300,000 towards the cost of this work.

The UTT is facing a deadline for completion of the project (the end of January 2024) and is eager to get the work started as quickly as possible.

Together with Fr Maher, we have now agreed that the Parochial Hall will be closed from 20 March next until the work has been completed.

Notice of this date has been communicated through the usual channels and all groups currently using the Hall have been accommodated elsewhere.

The Community Centre is in need of refurbishment to bring it up to a standard that will ensure it continues to be used by the community of Urlingford.

The Project

In order to progress our goal of upgrading and developing the Parochial Hall/ Community Centre the Urlingford Town Team submitted an application to the Department of Rural and Community Development under its funding call for the Community Centres Investment Fund in July 2022, for funding for Phase 1 of our project proposal.

Our Project proposal detailed the history of the current community centre, documented its current state and identified the refurbishment work that needs to be done.

The UTT's application was also supported by the agreement of the Diocese of Ossory to lease the whole Parochial Hall complex to the UTT for a period of 25 years in line with the conditions set out in the application process.

Essentially the works identified by the Town Team are the basic refurbishments to the Parish Hall/Community Centre required to make it fit for purpose.

These works include:

• essential maintenance works, repairs to roof, including removal of the current asbestos roof,

• energy retrofitting, new windows / doors / heating systems

• upgrades to lighting systems and stage areas

• works to improve disability access

• works to improve communal facilities such as kitchen and toilet facilities

• improvements to assist in providing additional or better services to the community such as meals for the elderly and youth facilities

• works to develop Community Centres as Social Hubs through the development of Community Cinemas, and Youth Hubs

How did we get here?

We were delighted when in December 2022, Ms Heather Humphreys T.D, Minister for Rural and Community Development, and Mr Leo Varadkar T.D. Tanaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment announced that the application was successful and that the UTT had been awarded €300,000 towards the Phase 1 of the project (the large dance hall and mineral bar).

It is the intention of the UTT to apply for funding for the second Phase of the refurbishment under the next call under the Community Centres Investment Fund.

We need your continued support

We would appeal to as many of you as possible to get involved in supporting the delivery of this project. This project will require a lot of effort , hard work and commitment, but we have no doubt that it will be of huge benefit to the entire community.

More details on getting involved in our efforts to refurbish the Parochial Hall/Community Hall can be found here.

Like all such government funded projects, the UTT is required to provide matching funding of 5% of the funding.

As the funding is for the upgrade and refurbishment of the buildings, we will also have to raise funding for the fit-out and furnishing of our newly refurbished Community Centre.

We are currently pursuing a number of fundraising options including holding a number of dedicated fundraising events, securing in-kind contributions, seeking contributions from the local business community, as well as from our diaspora.

Thank you all for your support so far! We will keep you updated on progress through this website.