Cong Community Centre becoming a reality

Cong Community Centre becoming a reality


Ciara Galvin
ciaragalvin@mayonews.ie

“A golden opportunity in tough times for the community.” That was how chairman of the Cong Community Centre Committee described the proposed €835,000 community centre project at last week’s public meeting in the south Mayo village. Speaking to a large gathering of the Cong community at Ryan’s Hotel, members of the committee outlined the revised plan for the mutli-purpose community centre to be located at Gortroe, Cong. The project received funding of €500,000 from South West Mayo Development Company and €100,000 from Mayo County Council on May 10, last. Committee chairman Gary Collins explained the process of bringing the proposed project from initial concept over five years ago to securing funding last month. The meeting was informed that after an initial cost plan came to €1.3 million, the committee revised plans as they felt a €700,000 shortfall to be made up by fundraising was ‘too big of a burden for any community’.
Richard Gibbons outlined that the initial ‘wish list’ for the building was amended and a ‘more affordable plan’ was created.
“We’re determined to stay focused and keep the project alive. It’s important that we cut our cloth,” stated Mr Gibbons, adding that ‘community requirements were not compromised in the revised plan’. The centre will include an exhibition space, meeting rooms, office space, a multi-purpose hall, kitchen and dining area and a senior citizens day care, among other facilities which will cater to various groups in the Cong area. Jim McGovern spoke to those gathered about the project budget and the €200,000 that still needs to be raised. Mr McGovern said the centre would be ‘something that will have a life span of over 40 years’. “This is the challenge that has to be met now. We’ve met all other challenges to get to this point. This is a project that only comes along once in a lifetime” stated McGovern. Asked by a member of the community if work would be kept local, Richard Gibbons, who acted as quantity surveyor on the project free of charge, explained that a Castlebar contractor was preferred for the works.
“No contract has been signed but we hope a relatively local contractor would create a spin-off locally. The tendering process was open and transparent and we’ll be pushing for local employment for the project,” explained Mr Gibbons. Once built, expected running costs for the centre were outlined to be €42,000 annually. Chairman Gary Collins concluded that building time for the centre would be approximately nine to ten months.

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