4 minute read
Rockchapel Celebrate 40th Anniversary
It was a special night for Rockchapel Community Centre as it was celebrating 40 years since the community centre was built. It started by Fr Stritch celebrating mass to a packed hall, he was of high praise of the value of the centre from a parish point of view. He remembered parishioners who have since passed, but a significant role in the establishment of the centre. It was the current chairman Mike Allen that spoke next on how he was so proud to be part of such a success story, and how important to have young people involved going forward.
Timmy Twomey as president recounted how Fr McCarty(RIP) organised the first meeting which had 29 people in a small prefab at the time. The president that was elected was Fr McCarty, chairman Paddy Carroll, secretary Eily Guiney (RIP), joint treasurers Jerry Mahony and Donal Murphy, Vice Chairman Timmy Twomey and assistant secretary Ned Curtin (RIP). He also told us of the significance of the people involved in the negotiations with the Health Board at the time in getting the site on a 99 year lease and in return including the health centre which is in use by a few doctors on a weekly basis.
Money needed to be raised in a big way as the build was costing approx £68000 and a large number of different ways were identified, the local Macra ran a raffle and raised £1000, a door to door contribution raised roughly £11000, other thing that were done were Card Games, Silver Circle, Sale of work, Hunting the Wren and the Biddy, Easter Raffle, Christmas trees were sold and Pat Mulcahy ran 11 concerts, and got money raised in America. A Grant of £25000 was got from the Dept of Education and Sport.
After all this, there was a shortfall of £14000 and the committee went back to the parish and raised the shortfall in the form of an interest free loan as interest rates were around 12 to 14% at the time, this money was paid back over the next 7 to 8 years. Neily Curtin showed some old photos of the opening and people involved and gave a rundown of all the activities taking place now, this was followed by refreshments. The present committee are in the process of forming a Limited Company and as a mark of appreciation to the trustees were presented with a piece of Art on Slate.
As Rockchapel is a part of Sliabh Luachra and has some fantastic musicians and dancers and even a poet, there was a concert organised by Caoimhe Flannery, this was outstanding as it had such a variety of acts from young to old and entertained to the small hours.
