Plans to upgrade historical hall

Plans are being drawn up and funds raised for a major programme of renovation and refurbishment at St Michael’s Hall in Cootehill.

The historic building, first erected in 1905, has been at the heart of the community for over a century but requires some modernisation.

St Michael’s Hall Redevelopment Committee carried out a public consultation on the future of the building. The process brought back memories dating back to the late 1940s.

“There was a lot of nostalgia for the hall,” chairperson of the Committee Connie Cox noticed, explaining how people of all ages shared their memories from times past.

“People would have gone to Irish dancing, people would have played badminton in it, there were talent shows, there were a myriad of things that went on in it over the years.

“People just wanted to see that still take place but obviously in a more modern, comfortable, welcoming environment.”

Currently operating as the town community centre, Connie said St Michael’s Hall is “badly in need of upgrading”.

The hall is currently owned by St Felim’s Trust.

“We are in the process of negotiating a lease,” explained Connie. The committee’s acquisition of the lease will mean they can access grants for the proposed works once planning permission is in place.

Planned works include an extension for meeting rooms and more sports facilities such as a basketball court; improved insultation and measures to make the building more economical to heat and light.

“As it stands, St Michael’s Hall is really the only community centre in Cootehill and we’re probably the only town of this size in the county that doesn’t have a modern, up-to-date community centre,” lamented Connie.

Proactive

“Cootehill is very well situated between Cavan and Monaghan,” she continued, meaning the hall could be a key meeting point for many organisations.

“The way things are going with the population increase in Ireland, I think going forward the population of Cootehill is going to increase substantially.

“We need to be building facilities that are there, not waiting until people come.”

The project is currently in its “early stages” with the committee at a point where they “want to go and start doing up plans, to get planning permission”, which will take some months. They are currently in contact with various groups including Cavan County Council to get the project underway.

Cootehill Calling 2025!

The group has received €17,000 of discretionary funding from the local Cootehill – Bailieborough municipal district.

They aim to have the project “well underway” by 2025, when Cootehill will celebrate its ter-centenary – 300 years since the town’s official foundation.

“We are going to maybe use it at Cootehill’s version of Cavan Calling to encourage people from the area to come home that year.”

The main aim of the organisation is “to have a fully functioning community centre that’s available across the community and for all age groups”.

“We want to have a place where, on a cold winter’s night when people are sitting in front of their fire, that they’re happy to go out to something in it because it’s such a welcoming and warm space,” Connie concluded.