Becoming ‘a part of the fabric of the town’
Taragh Donohoe, chairperson of the Ballyconnell Community Centre Committee, spoke to The Anglo-Celt about the much-anticipated opening. She hopes it will be a “hub for the whole entire community”.
“For all ages, stages, creeds and religions, whoever you are, the community centre is open for you.”
It will see a sports hall, handball alley and a general hall “for all sorts of activities” in the town.
Taragh explained that these activities can range from chess, zumba, creative writing, anything that the people of Ballyconnell would like to see happening in the area.
Final renovations will take place during the summer months, with a new roof already on the former community centre building.
“When it opens it won’t be 100% right, there’s lots of work that we have to do, which we still need to get funding for, but it will be open and usable by anyone who wants to take part.”
One initiative that Taragh hopes will take off in the town again is the Ballyconnell Youth Club. Once a vibrant and exciting place for the youth to come, the club slowed to a halt due to issues with the community centre and COVID-19.
Taragh hopes to reverse this and is asking for volunteers to help.
“We are ready to bring it back,” she said, calling for volunteers and leaders to help set the group going over the summer.
This initiative is one that the community centre committee is “very strong” on as it is “creating opportunities for youth to get involved and to socialise".
In addition to this, the centre will also be a meeting point for senior citizens in the town.
“Anything that people might be interested in getting involved in a group capacity we’re open to help people out with.”
Originally from Fermanagh, Taragh lived in Dublin for “many years” and Ballyconnell has become her home for the past 10 years. She is invested in the town and strives to keep rural, community spirit alive, something she missed while living in the city.
“When I lived in Dublin, I belonged to nobody and I was connected to nothing; so coming to Ballyconnell for me it was really important to establish connections here and to become a part of the fabric of the town.
“I’m very much a fan of Ballyconnell and I love where I live,” she said, adding that driving past the derelict community centre hit her hard.
“We’ve a great committee going, we’re supported very well by the parish that owns the building.
“There’s great energy around it, people are very interested and excited about it opening so it’s great to work on a project that’s going to have so many good effects for people in the town and people beyond the town as well.”