Kilcoo centre gets funding

Kilcoo centre gets funding

14 December 2016

KILCOO GAC has secured almost £350,000 to build a new community centre for the village.

The ultra-modern facility will be located within the club’s existing ground after the major investment proposal secured money from the Big Lottery’s Space and Place programme.

The local club is one of 13 groups in Northern Ireland to share a £4.3m funding cake for a range of projects. The new community facility is designed to address social isolation and assist with creating greater community connections.

The new community centre will be built on derelict ground beside Kilcoo GAC’s current clubrooms. When complete, the project will provide a multi-use hall suitable for a range of activities, as well as a community meeting room equipped with IT and training equipment which will allow for the delivery of a range of courses. 

New kitchen and catering facilities are also planned in anticipation of community functions being held in the new premises. The new centre will also complement other recent developments on the site including a walkway, play park and gym and Kilcoo GAC is confident the new project can be a real catalyst to greater partnership working within the village.

Club chairman, Terry O’Hanlon, said everyone is “absolutely delighted” to have secured funding from the Space and Place programme.

“Kilcoo GAC has put so much work into this to get the project to this stage, with massive support from the entire local community, so this funding is a dream come true,” he said.

“The new facility will provide a base for all of the local organisations and will include a multi-purpose hall, meeting facilities and kitchen. This much-needed investment will provide a fantastic centre to allow the entire community to participate locally in a wide range of social, recreational and sporting activities that they have never been able to do before.”

South Down MLA, Caitríona Ruane, has welcomed the funding boost for the Kilcoo club, describing it as a “welcome boost for all those involved in the project.”

She continued: “Over recent years, I have worked closely with Eoghain Rua Kilcoo GAA as they campaigned for funding to provide a hub that will serve the entire community and allow for greater partnership between groups and agencies in the area.”

Ms Ruane added: “The planned community hubs will provide a key facility to further promote greater community connections and deliver a range of activities for all.” 

Space and Place co-ordinator, Michael Hughes, said the Space and Place consortium is delighted to be announcing this final round of grants.

He added: “We have seen from past experience that these grants make a hugely positive contribution towards transforming neglected or underused spaces in communities and also help tackle a diverse range of issues including social isolation and lack of facilities.

“This new space will help people in the community to come together on a more regular basis, allowing them to be better connected and will make a significant impact on building community cohesion in the area. We wish Eoghain Rua Kilcoo GAC and the local community every success with the project and look forward to seeing the new facility.”