Kinlough Community Center celebrates 50th anniversary with refurbishment

Justin Warnock, Chairman of Kinlough Community Development Company Ltd, signed contracts with Gerard McGloin of NorthWest Retro Fit Ltd to do significant refurbishment at Kinlough Community Centre this Spring. 

Also present were Martin McLaughlin of October House Designs and members of the Development Company in attendance.

This project is 95% funded by the Community Centres Investment Fund from the Department of Rural and Community Development.  

Kinlough Community Centre was originally built in 1974, so the refurbishment is just in time for its 50th anniversary. 

Major retrofitting works will be undertaken to improve the centre's energy efficiency, including new insulated roof panels, insulated wall plasterboards, a renewable energy system with integrated solar panels, and new interior and exterior doors and windows. 

This project will complement the significant capital works the Development Company have undertaken over the past ten years, including a new AstroTurf pitch, a new grass pitch, a new car park, a new kitchen and the new Hub building. Completion of these works will mean almost €1.5 million will have been invested by the Community Group in the past decade at the Community Centre.

Over the past ten years, a great amount of grant support (over €800,000) has been secured from a variety of funding organisations, but a huge part of all these works has been carried out from fundraising (approx €700,000), and for this support from our community, friends and diaspora we are eternally grateful.

The Community Centre will be closed from mid-March for approx two months. 

The weekly Bingo will continue, reverting to the outdoor Car Park Bingo the group successfully held during lockdown times. Activities will also continue on the pitches and in the Hub.