Members of a local community development association decided to voluntarily renovate their community hall, rather than waiting years to accumulate funding from local and central government sources.

Cooneen/Coonian Community Development Association members, led by Jimmy Boyle and Johnny McDonnell, have just completed a three-year renovation project on Cooneen/Coonian community hall. A few years ago, the committee members agreed that space was an issue and that the busy community hall was in need of more toilets, a bigger kitchen and a storage area. We were quoted a cost of £49,810 and we just wouldn’t have that sort of money – I don’t think any local community group would have that sort of money,” commented Jimmy Boyle, Chairman of Cooneen/Coonian Community Development Association.

We tried different options for grants at the time but there was nothing available,” he recalled, “We decided to do everything voluntarily. We started in July 2014; just the two of us. We were digging away at foundations and people probably thought we were mad!” said Mr. Boyle. He and Mr. McDonnell “never became disheartened” by the length of time it has taken to complete the project. Jimmy, a retired builder and Johnny, a farmer, “had great craic” and received help from the other members of the committee, local skilled tradespeople and labourers who lent a hand when they could.

“I always thought it was worth the hard work. It’s worth it all now to see the finished product,” commented Mr. Boyle.

The hall – which was built in 2000, after the community group secured grant assistance and carried out fundraising – is a former primary school. Over the last 17 years, it has been very well used by members of the local community for a range of social, recreational and educational activities including card playing, old time dancing, flower arranging, rambling, children’s Irish dancing classes, traditional singing, music and storytelling sessions, line dancing, art, pilates, farmer’s information courses and talks, an annual outdoor summer ceili, annual Charity Walk, Run or Cycle and annual Christmas party.

The hall can now boast a male, female and disabled toilet; a new kitchen and a large storage area. The new facilities have been fully operational for the past few weeks.

“Everyone from the local community is more than happy with it,” according to Mr. Boyle, who states that they carried out the construction work at a cost of just over £13,000; 74 per cent less than what they were initially quoted.

The community group has recently secured a grant of £1,446 from the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Rural Micro Capital Grant Scheme Phase 3 to fit out the gents toilets and will receive £6,266 from the Department for Communities Community Halls Pilot Programme 2016 for fitting out the kitchen and installing a new boiler.

Mr. Boyle concluded: “I’m glad we done it because, otherwise, it would never have been done. I’m excited about the future for the Coonen/Coonian community hall which is a great wee hub of this area. Our community association is an example of what can be achieved with a voluntary effort.”