Funding sanctioned for Corofin Hall

Work extending and refurbishing Corofin Hall looks set to begin by the end of next month after the Department for Environment, Community and Local Government this week allocated €300,000 to Clare Local Development Company for the North Clare project.

The Minister sanctioned the funding for Corofin Hall and Field (CHAF) Ltd, for the extension and refurbishment of Corofin Hall under the Basic Services for the Economy and Rural Population measure of the Rural Development Programme 2007-2013. 

The development will benefit and is supported by a wide range of community and voluntary groups. It will consist of the part-demolishing of annexes constructed to the original building, the construction of extensions to the existing building to include sports dressing room, kitchen and stores, the refurbishment and upgrading of mechanical heating ventilation and electrical systems, floor, wall and ceiling finishes to existing structure and upgrade of insulation throughout, external footpaths, ramps and access and external services connection.

The Minister has also sanctioned funding of up to €181,776 to Clare Camogie Board, to carry out works to, and purchase equipment for, a dedicated facility for camogie, at Bunnow, Doora.

Announcing the funding Minister Hogan said “These projects will be of immense benefit to County Clare, with total project costs of €852,368.66. I know both projects will improve the quality of life and will strengthen the social and economic fabric for all in the communities concerned.”

CHAF has agreed a loan of €200,000 from social investment fund Clann Credo with an additional €40,000 grant and €60,000 interest free loan secured from the parish.

“That will take us to €600,000 and we expect the building to come in around €525,000, so that is what we are working on in relation to the construction project. The balance will then be used to fit it. We hope to start work before the end of November.

“We couldn’t finalise a lease from the Diocesan Trust, who own the hall, until the funding had been sorted out. The hall was the parish hall and we are signing a 25 year lease with them for the building. It has been in a dire condition for the last eight or 10 years and we really want to get it up to a stage where it useful to the community,” said Gerard Kennedy of CHAF.

To pay back the loans, CHAF has been operating a ‘500 club’, something Gerard believes has been very successful. 

“The 500 Club will be repaying the loan. We will have to continue that for another number of years but when the hall is finished we can run events to generate additional income. The big jobs in the coming months and years will be getting the paperwork together and repaying the loan.

“We have looked at this and we have about 50 voluntary groups operating in the wider community here and the majority of these don’t have facilities themselves. The population of Corofin has increased, doubling in size since the 1990s, the schools are expanding here in recent years so there is a fairly wide community there that could use this,” he added.

Deputy Joe Carey paid tribute to the foresight and “hard work and dedication of sporting and community workers and volunteers on the ground in Corofin and the Clare Camogie Board.”

The Fine Gael TD added that he believes the money for Corofin Hall will allow people to continue to use the building and will increase community spirit.

“A hall such as this is vital to many communities in rural areas, and the upgrade will allow for added sports areas such as dressing rooms, as well as a new kitchen and store area. The exterior access routes to the building will also be upgraded including footpaths and also the building’s heating and ventilation systems will be enhanced and where necessary refurbished.

“This will ensure that locals in Corofin can continue to use the hall and help foster a sense of community spirit, and continue to meet the civic, sporting and sometimes educational needs of locals and visitors alike,” he stated.