Relaunch of Crossgar Community Association

Relaunch of Crossgar Community Association

17 April 2024

THE Crossgar Community Association will formally relaunch next week.

At the end of January it was confirmed at the group’s annual meeting that it was to fold due to lack of support, but it has been given a new lease of life.

While only three people attended the annual meeting, around 30 supported a meeting early last month in a bid to get it up and running again.

The positivity and commitment on the night paved the way for a new committee to be appointed and next Tuesday night’s relaunch takes place at St Colmcille’s High School at 7.30pm.

New chairman Gareth Carville will be joined by his deputy Patrick Quinn, secretary Eileen Bell, treasurer Declan McGonagle and others.

A new strategic plan is being drawn up for the village and people in the village and surrounding area are being encouraged to attend next week’s launch.

News of the community group’s relaunch comes as details of a major fundraiser in aid of Crossgar War Memorial Community Hall have been announced.

What is being billed as a “grand country concert” takes place in the hall next Thursday night, April 25, at 7.45pm.

In early February, the cross-community hall was stripped of its Newry, Mourne and Down Council funding.

An application for £3,000 in financial support was refused, despite funding having been provided over the previous eight years.

After several appeal attempts to appeal the decision, the hall committee was left with no other option than to raise the funding refusal with the Public Services Ombudsman.

Volunteers who run the hall have been locked in a year-long battle with the local authority to have the annual funding restored to meet running costs.

They say the decision to end crucial financial support for the John Street hall — which has been at the heart of village life since 1952 — left it facing an uncertain future.

Labelling the decision “unfair”, the hall’s management committee confirmed it approached the Ombudsman for help as it has been left with no other choice, with the local authority steadfastly refusing overturn its funding decision.

Committee members insist the ruling to refuse grant support is based on what they believe are a number of flaws in the council’s application form.

They had been hoping to secure grant aid for four years to meet the hall’s running costs and ensure it remained open for business.

Volunteers unanimously agreed to take its complaint against the local authority to the Ombudsman to scrutinise the grant application process.

“When we received the devastating news that the village’s only community hall wouldn’t be getting vital council funding, we were left with no other option than to raise extra funds if we want to keep the hall open which we are determined to do,” said a committee spokesman.

“We used to run these events when Hubert Gabbie was on our committee and then the Covid pandemic happened. It is exciting to be putting on such an enjoyable event next week and the lineup could hardly be better.”

The hall volunteers, who work very hard all year round to maintain what is Crossgar’s only community hall for its hundreds of weekly users, are determined to keep the doors open and are hoping local people will support next week’s fundraiser.

Performers include Owen Mac, Shaun Loughrey, Bonnie Stewart and Boxcar Brian and award-winning Country Harmony, The compere for the evening is  Gary Wilson.

Doors open at 7pm with tickets, priced £10, available, from Eventbrite or from Helen at 71 Killyleagh Street, Crossgar, telephone 028 4483 0732.

Remaining tickets will be available to buy at the door on the night.