€22k LEADER funding will help further upgrade Kilshanning Community Centre

NORTH Cork Fine Gael Councillor John Paul O’Shea has welcomed the awarding of a LEADER Programme grant by the North Cork Local Action Group (LAG) through its implementing partner Avondhu Blackwater Partnership CLG to Kilshannig Community Centre.

More than €22,000 in LEADER Programme funding has been allocated for the works by the North Cork LAG, which is a committee of Cork County Council. The grant is to fund interior and exterior works at the community centre, namely the laying of tarmacadam and kerbing in the car park, the fitting of gullies and piping, lining the car park, and sanding, relining and varnishing the floor in the main hall. The grant is only a percentage of the full costs of the work and resources from the Kilshannig Community Centre Development Association will also be spent to complete the works.

Kilshannig Community Centre was officially reopened in March 2015 following major refurbishments. The new centre consists of a reception area, large community hall and stage area, meeting rooms, kitchen, and toilets.

Cllr O’Shea said he was pleased that the North Cork LAG on the recommendation of Valerie Murphy, CEO of Avondhu Blackwater Partnership, and her dedicated board of directors and staff had approved the funding request by Kilshannig Community Centre Development Association.

“This funding allocation is important for a number of reasons. It will improve health and safety for peoples using the community centre as the current car park surface is not adequate. Improvements to the floor of the main hall will increase its use and allow new groups to utilise it,” he said.

“The community in Kilshannig deserve great credit for bringing the community hall up to the state-of-theart level it’s currently at. The centre underwent a huge transformation in 2015 and these new works, thanks to the funding from North Cork LAG and input from Avondhu Blackwater Partnership, will compliment that upgrade and make the centre even more attractive to the local and wider community,” Cllr O’Shea said.

Micheál Casey, chairperson of the Kilshannig Community Development Association, thanked everyone involved for the provision of more than €22,000 in funding, especially Dave Foley of Avondhu Blackwater Partnership CLG. “We greatly appreciate this funding which will help us carry out much-needed upgrades to the centre, particularly in the car park and main hall,” he said.

“Our committee has done terrific work and much credit is due to my fellow officers Noeleen Buckley and Michelle Savage, and everyone else involved for their continued voluntary support at the community centre.”