Locals get first glimpse inside new Killeigh Community Centre

A viewing day took place on Saturday last for members of the public to take a look inside the new community centre in Killeigh.

The multi-million euro facility is the result of a major local voluntary effort which got underway around seven years ago.

Following a public procurement tendering process, local company Allen Kenny Construction Ltd was awarded the contract for the building of the community centre and moved on site in November 2022.

The PRO of the Killeigh Community Centre Development Association, Martina Gorman, said that there was a good reaction from the local community to seeing the new community centre.

An official opening of the centre will take place at a later date. Ms Gorman said that the association's first priority was to open the space to the public and the people that supported them first. “It's important just for them to get inside the door and have a look around.”

The new facility already has had a number of bookings for classes and for local people to use the community centre. A six-week plates class will commence on Wednesday, June 5 from 6.30pm to 7.30pm. Circuit classes for men and women of all levels will also start from Tuesday, June 4.

Ms Gorman said that the local community was very appreciative of the Development Association's efforts in recent years. She felt that the viewing day was “absolutely fantastic.”

“It was a very nice, beautiful day, people were coming constantly all day.”

She said that the locals were “in awe” of the facility and its colour scheme. “It has that warmth when you come in the front door.”

The new facility was built on the site of the former Macra Hall, which was built in the 1960s and had fallen into disrepair. Ms Gorman said: “We were conscious we still wanted to keep something of that so we kept the old four walls of the structure itself.”

She added that their main priority as a committee was to get the active retirement group back into the community centre and to find a meeting place for them. They are also proud of the new wheelchair accessible facility. Wheelchair accessible showering facilities have also been installed which Ms Gorman said the Development Association was “very adamant” about introducing to the new centre.

Martina said that they couldn't be more proud of the facility. “I think we've got value for money now and it's there for the future and that's all we ever wanted, a place for everybody in the community to use and I think we have achieved that. We've come within budget which is phenomenal for what it cost us to do it,” concluded Ms Gorman.