Killawalla celebrates opening

Killawalla celebrates opening of new Community Centre


Michael Duffy

THE community of Killawalla turned out in force last Thursday evening to get a first glimpse of the new re-developed Community Centre which was officially opened by County Manager Des Mahon.
The hall, which has been in use in the west Mayo village in some shape or form for the last 109 years, has been redeveloped into a state of the art modern hall at a cost in the region of €250,000.
Fr Frank Fahey performed the official blessing on the building before Mr Mahon performed the ribbon cutting duties - with a little help from the school children of the parish who will be utilising the facility for many years to come.
“I was honoured to be asked to perform the official opening and from the finished building here before us this evening, I can see that an exceptional effort has been put in by the community.”
Mr Mahon said a ‘great example of leadership’ had been shown by Killawalla Community Council under its chairperson, Ann McHale.
“The community council have given of their time for the greater good and in the interest of developing the community as a whole. Mayo County Council are delighted to have been instrumental in the development of the centre and credit must also go the elected representatives from the Castlebar Electoral Area who chose this project for funding under the Social and Economic Fund.”
Having seen the great progress that had taken place in the village over the last number of years, Mr Mahon added that he would have no hesitation in nominating Killawalla as one the villages to go forward for the prestigious Pride of Place awards in 2009.
Ann McHale, the Chairperson of Killawalla Community Council, said along with the County Council, funding had also been secured from the Departments of Community, Gaeltacht and Rural Affairs and of Health and Children, and from the South West Mayo Development Company. She also paid special tribute to Padraic Flanagan and Tom Gilboy from Mayo County Council for their input and to architect Pat Grady and contractor Martin Coleman for their hugely important role in bringing the project to fruition.
“I am now living in Killawalla for 35 years and from the moment I arrived I was struck by the community spirit and the hospitality of the people. The Community Council decided in 2001 to commission a survey to see how the centre could be used more and most felt that a childcare facility and activities for the elderly were hugely important. We then set up a committee to make our plans a reality and the fruits of their labour are what you see here today.”
Mrs McHale went on to thank the Killawalla community at large who responded generously to an appeal for local contributions over the past few months.
Master of Ceremonies for the evening was Peter Carter of Killawalla Community Council and catering at the officially opening was looked after by Corley’s Bar and Lounge in Ballintubber.