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Fahy Hall to be completed in 26 weeks

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Clockwise from back left, Fr Jerry Carey; Ronan Piggott, Finbar Piggott & Partners; Michael Davis, Dermot & Sean Merry Architects; Paddy Coleman, Paddy Colman & Associates; Gerard O’Malley, Lawlor & Partners; Michael Dinan, Pastoral Council and Enda and Shane Galvin from Galvin Construction at the signing of the contracts for the redevelopment of Fahy Hall in Roslevan. Photograph by Declan MonaghanTHE redevelopment of Fahy Hall in Roslevan is set to be complete within 26 weeks. On Monday, contracts were signed with Galvin Construction for the redevelopment of Fahy Hall and the addition of a new oratory.
According to Jackie Morris, of the Roslevan Pastoral Council, “This project will provide modern community and pastoral facilities for our community.”
The redeveloped hall will increase the floor area and provide meeting rooms, a kitchen, store, toilets and other facilities. The oratory will be  a permanent place of worship, accommodating 95 people and can be combined with the adjoining hall to increase capacity to up to 300 people for mass and other church services.
According to Jackie, this development is vital for the growing Doora Barefield parish and the Roslevan area, which has seen an increase in its housing population.
“Doora Barefield Parish is one of the largest rural parishes in the Diocese of Killaloe. It stretches 16 miles from Barefield in the north to Doora in the south. Roslevan is situated in the centre of the parish and has witnessed a major growth in housing and population over the past 15 years. House numbers increased from 300 in the mid ’90s to over 1,500 now with a corresponding growth in population from circa 800 to 5,000 in the same period,” Jackie explained.
“Unfortunately, this development and growth in population was not matched by provision of any new community facilities. The only community facility in Roslevan is Fahy Hall built by Comhaltas in the ’70s. The growth in population also necessitated the provision of facilities for mass and Fahy Hall has been used over the last number of years for Saturday evening mass. The hall is also used for Comhaltas activities, Irish dance teaching, martial arts and by the Church of Pentecost Ireland for Sunday service.”
The appointment of the late Fr Michael McNamara as parish priest in Doora Barefield Parish led to the establishment of pastoral councils in the three sections of the parish, Doora, Barefield and Roslevan in 2005.
“Roslevan Pastoral Council from the outset put provision of community faculties as a priority and worked tirelessly since to achieve this,” stated Jackie.
“In the Doora Barefield parish, community spirit is highly valued and this has been epitomised in recent times by the official opening of the extension to Barefield National School, also the official opening of St Joseph’s GAA’s magnificent facilities at Gurteen. Work has just commenced in providing four new classrooms at Knockanean National School and on Monday, contracts were signed for redevelopment of Fahy Hall and addition of new oratory.
“Despite the present very difficult economic climate and the stress this creates, the parish of Doora Barefield maintains a magnificent community spirit reflected in the voluntary input into all of above projects which would not happen if it were not for the community providing for the community needs,” Jackie concluded.

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