‘A huge achievement’: Slane Community Centre finally set to open its doors
After more than a decade of fundraising, planning and determination, the new Slane Community Centre will officially open its doors next month.
The €1.1m facility will be officially opened on Sunday, 4th October from 2.30pm to 4.30pm, marking a major milestone for the village.
Slane Community Centre chairperson Maeve Carbin said the committee was “very, very proud” to finally reach the point where the building could be opened to the public.
“We’ve done so much work for the last 12 years to get us here,” she said.
“There’s been so much work in fundraising, the building committee, dealing with grant applications and all the work that has gone on behind the scenes — a huge, huge amount of work.
“We’re very, very proud to come to this stage. We’ve got this beautiful building.”
The need for a community centre was first identified by the Slane Community Forum, an umbrella group representing voluntary and business organisations in the village.
A committee was subsequently established to identify a suitable site and get the project moving.
The centre is located beside Slane National School, with the community sharing facilities with the school.
Slane-based company Croft Construction Ltd was appointed to the project in March 2020, with the first sod eventually turned in September of that year.
The project received €220,000 through the Community Centre Investment Fund, €89,000 through a Sports Capital Grant and €75,000 from Meath County Council.
However, more than €500,000 was raised by the local community through an extensive programme of fundraising.
Major fundraising efforts included a Strictly Come Dancing event with Slane GAA, in which Minister Helen McEntee took part, a monster draw, an annual golf classic and a monthly draw.
Maeve said the monthly draw is continuing to help the committee meet its remaining financial commitments.
The committee still has a loan of approximately €220,000 to repay and is hoping the public will continue to support its fundraising efforts.
The project has faced numerous challenges along the way, including the Covid-19 pandemic and shortages of building materials.
Fianna Fáil Cllr Wayne Harding said the project had been an “extraordinary effort” by the community.
“It’s a stunning building, which will have a fantastic knock-on benefit,” he said.
He highlighted the benefit of the centre being connected to the school, with facilities available to pupils during the day and a separate entrance allowing the wider community to use the building in the evenings.
“Potentially it could be in use for 14 to 16 hours a day,” he said.
Cllr Harding also praised the expertise within the committee, which includes people with skills in areas such as law, accountancy, project management and grant applications.
“If it were not for the expertise within the committee, this would not have been delivered,” he said.
The completed centre includes a large hall suitable for sporting activities, as well as a separate meeting room.
Maeve said it would provide opportunities for activities including dancing, taekwondo, martial arts, gymnastics, yoga and Pilates, while sports such as basketball, pickleball and table tennis could also take place there.
“It’s just going to bring so many new things to the community,” she said.
The centre will provide a base for existing community organisations while also creating opportunities for new groups to establish themselves.
A major benefit will be its location beside Slane National School, with the school having access to the hall for PE, sporting activities and school events.
Maeve said the centre represented a huge achievement for the village after years of work.
“It is going to bring so much to the community,” she said.
The official opening on 4th October will be attended by Minister Helen McEntee, Cllr Wayne Harding and other local representatives, with the committee hoping the event will provide an opportunity for the community to celebrate finally having a dedicated centre of its own.