Nominee for Best Community Enterprise

Tureencahill Community Group

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Tureencahill Community Group CLG was formed in 2014 to maintain the rural school which closed due to falling numbers. They aimed to maintain the school building as a viable Community Centre within the wider Sliabh Luachra area, and to promote a vibrant, caring, and inclusive community spirit covering all age groups from babies to seniors. The building also offers community events, both educational and social.

With great help and dedication, particularly from chairperson Bertie O’Leary, the building has been upgraded - heating, lighting, painting, storage space - and it is now an incredibly comfortable space. They offer a range of courses aimed at all ages and skill levels that assist mental and physical health, as well as give people a space to socialise. Classes include Yoga, Pilates, Bridge, Active Retirement, Computer, and a summer school as well as a broadband hub. Tureencahill Community Group is now part of the National Broadband connection point scheme. Locals and people from the wider community can avail of superfast Wi-Fi in this dedicated hub. This proved an invaluable service during lockdown for many students, working and learning remotely in a safe socially distanced environment.

While Covid was very challenging, the Bridge club and Active Retirement group set up online events to keep in touch with their members which were very beneficial keeping personal contact alive during very isolating times. Their goals look to be coming to fruition with the establishment of Sheilann’s Early Learning Centre, which caters for preschool children Monday - Friday 9am - 12pm.

It brings joy to the local community to hear the laughter of children in Tureencahill School playground again.

They hope to continue to be able to meet their aims and objectives in promoting a vibrant, caring community spirit covering all ages from babies to seniors. Since the group was formed. the support received from the local and wider Sliabh Luachra area for all the activities provided at the centre has been tremendous, and the benefit the centre is to the area cannot be stated enough.

This centre is an effort of pure community spirit and the team and the services embody this - as the saying goes: “Ní neart go cur le chéile.”