2 community hubs opened

Castlelyons and Whiddy Island community centres benefited from the 2014-2020 LEADER Programme, receiving more than €400,000 combined.

A grant of €243,951 was allocated to Whiddy Island Development Association for the construction of a new community centre. The new facility consists of a multipurpose hall, toilets, showers, a kitchenette and a community tearoom with an outside seating area, landscaping, parking and solar panels for the provision of hot water.

In Castlelyons, the community centre received funding of €179,481 to renovate the village’s existing community hall. Built in 1971, the original hall required substantial upgrades including insulation, improvements to disability access and health and safety upgrades.

Works also included the installation of LED lighting around the stage, a sound gantry and a new meeting room.

The Mayor of the County of Cork Cllr Danny Collins extended congratulations to both communities.

He said: “Community centres provide a hub for communities for a vast array of social, recreational, educational and sporting activities. Both of these projects epitomise the role of LEADER in improving the daily lives of people in rural areas. It’s heartening to see the results of these collaborative efforts coming to fruition.”