Senator Aisling Dolan - Strong Voice, New Vision.

€3.3 million for 21 community halls and centres across County Galway!

December 08, 2022

€3.3 million for 21 community halls and centres across County Galway!

This is incredible funding as part of the new Community Centres Fund set up this year by my colleague Minister Heather Humphreys. It represents government’s commitment under the ‘Our Rural Future’ strategy to invest in community halls and centres across Co. Galway.
Today communities around #Galway will be jumping for joy at much needed investment to help deal with rising costs. This fund will support retrofitting, renovation and upgrade works to halls & centres in 21 towns & villages. It will be a real boost especially as we are coming into the Christmas period.
I promoted this programme to many groups and many were successful in the first round of funding earlier in October. To thank all the volunteers who took the time to prepare and submit these applications. Most groups who won funding today are in the large-scale category from €100,000 to €300,000 with communities match-funding 5%.
Congratulations to the Ballinasloe Town Hall Theatre Committee who have won over a quarter of a million euro. These funds of €251,000 will help upgrade and open up the fantastic spaces and rooms on the top floor as well as investing in energy efficiency. The committee showcased the vision and plans for development last June plus the work of volunteers painting and giving the Town Hall Theatre such a facelift. There is a real vision to develop this space for drama, theatre and music performances we can all enjoy.
Ballinasloe Social Services have also won over €80,000 to install solar panels, new lighting and flooring. Social Services in Ballinasloe are a lifeline for people who attend Day Services and they only recently celebrated 50 years going and we are looking forward to 50 more! Again we are very grateful to the work of volunteers who support this service. Minister Heather Humphreys had an opportunity to meet this group in Ballinasloe last summer. And tomorrow Friday 9th Dec., we have the Ballinasloe Christmas Jumper Appeal to fundraise for Ballinasloe Social Services and Galway Hospice and I’ll have my best woolly jumper from 10am-12pm at the Credit Union on Main St.
Ballymoe Boystown Development Company won €95,000 in funding for new external windows and doors as well as wall insulation and investment in a renewable heating system.
With successful funding of €100,000, Clonberne Community Centre will invest in heating system as well as sound and acoustics.
Well done to #Abbeyknockmoy Parish Centre, Eyrecourt & District Development Group, #Kinvara Community Council and many more who have also received major investment through the Community Centres programme