Special night for the fab four driving force behind Wilkinstown Community Centre

Wilkinstown Community Centre (WCC) had a night to remember as people from all over the locality came together to pay tribute to and show their appreciation for four long serving committee members of the local centre on Saturday night. Seamus Glennon, Breege Wall, Vincent Shivnan and Liam Caffrey were for over 40 years the backbone of the WCC.

They voluntarily gave their time, expertise, talents, and experience over many decades to the centre ensuring its continuous success in serving the local people of Wilkinstown.

WCC is a voluntary led group by the people, for the people. They aim to provide an accessible, affordable multipurpose facility for all to enjoy. The current committee of the centre organised the event to give the locals and users of the centre the opportunity to show their true and full appreciation of all their commitment and dedication.

Over 150 people attended the event and it was a night of laughs, tears and reminiscing stories that went on until the early hours with lively music and dancing to round it off.

The night was meticulously organised by a group of committee members led by Andrena Milligan Crahan, the general secretary of WCC. Gordon Mitchell, the new WCC chairman replacing Liam Caffrey, paid a well deserved homage to the four members and presented them with some gifts in a sign of appreciation from the whole community.

His comment that Liam and Vincent were Wilkinstown's answer to Ant and Dec went down particularly well with the gathering.

After the laughs and cheers, came a standing ovation to these four special people from the Wilkinstown community that created a sense of togetherness and a memory that will live long in everyone that attended.

The sense of community and pride was in abundance and WCC look forward to exciting events over the months and years ahead as their new hall extension is completed and the amenity park is set to open in July of this year. There are many events and activities for everyone to get involved in such as Twakwondo, a monthly farmers market, social dancing, a mum and toddlers group and much more.

The origins of Wilkinstown Community Centre goes back to the early seventies. After the new school opened in Wilkinstown in September 1971, a committee was formed to investigate the possibility of converting the old school into a community hall.

Tom Lynn was chairman, Maureen Fay nee Meehan from Clynch was secretary, Seamus Glennon, John Hubble and Mai Cooney were committee members. There was no running water or toilets and it was then two rooms so one of the first jobs was to knock the dividing wall.

Activities included a ladies club, youth club, Macra na Feirme, Irish dancing, adult education forum, dramatic society, badminton club, speech and drama and arts and crafts.

By 1987, it was apparent that this building was grossly inadequate for the requirements of the general area. Despite the difficult economic climate at the time, the committee saw the urgent need for a new modern multipurpose centre to be built to the highest building specifications.

A major fundraising drive was set in motion. By 1990 a considerable amount of money was raised and planning permission was granted by Meath County Council. The old school was demolished in 1992 and there was no hall for four years until the new hall opened in 1996. A major extension to the centre is progressing well and an amenity park is also under development.

Over the years, Seamus, Vincent, Liam and Breege gave hugely of their time and gave a serious record of unbroken service to WCC. They were always prepared to move with the times. They were always open to new ideas and explored the merits of the project.

Seamus Glennon was on the first committee in 1972 and was a brilliant fundraiser and a very active committee member. He was instrumental in getting a lot of people on to the committee including Liam Caffrey , Vincent Shivnan and Breege Wall. He was vice-chair and director for many years before stepping down in 2020.

Vincent Shivnan and Liam Caffrey joined in the seventies and both served various posts on the committee before becoming long serving treasurer and chairman. Both stepped down from these roles last year but continue to be involved.

Breege Wall started with the then North Eastern Health Board in 1996 and continued to clean and look after the hall after the HSE left until she stepped down from the role and the committee in 2020.