Community Centres Boost: Funding is a 'massive step' in returning Dunderry Hall to the local area

Efforts to re-open Dunderry Hall for the local communities of Dunderry, Robinstown and Kilbride have been given a massive boost with funding of €300,000 announced towards the project last week under the Community Centre Investment Fund.

Six years ago the parish hall serving Dunderry, Robinstown and Kilbride was closed due to health and safety concerns and efforts have been continuing since then to bring the hall back into use and make it a community hub once again.

Mark Stenson, chairperson of the board of directors welcomed the funding announcement and said it was a massive step in getting the hall back open. "After five years of hard work, firstly to procure the hall from the Diocese of Meath and bring it into our ownership, this funding is now a massive step in getting the hall back open to the community. "

"It has been a long process to get this far but we are on the right road now we have funding."

Mark said while it is a huge injection of funds, it will need a lot more and they will need to do fundraising and also look at what other funding streams are available like grants and corporate fundraising.

The next step will be to appoint a design team and architects and to get planning permission before going out to tender and appointing a contractor.

The hall will need a lot of work but early indications are that the roof should be ok and won't need to be replaced. However, it will need rewiring, a new heating system, a new fire alarm system, and the toilets need to be upgraded to make them accessible. With no insulation in the building they also hope to make it more energy efficient and will investigate what grants may be available for this.

A development committee was established last April to work on this funding application, and to look at other sources of funding and a second design and construction committee will also be set up.

"We are really looking forward to opening up a new hall that is fit for purpose and comfortable and safe to use for the community. We hope to be open in 2024 if everything falls into place" said Mark.

The Dunderry, Kilbride, Robinstown, Community Hall Ltd AGM takes place in Robinstown Hall on Wednesday night, 14th December, at 8pm.