Restoration work for iconic Kilcormac hall planned for early summer

THE proposed renovation of the iconic Kilcormac building, Fiesta Hall, should begin in the early summer.
A public information evening about the project was held in St Joseph's Community Centre, Kilcormac on Tuesday evening, March 8th.
The meeting was held by Offaly Local Development Company (OLDC) and Green Offaly, who outlined their plans for the refurbishment of the hall as a Green Headquarters for Offaly and the wider midlands.
The exciting project to turn the hall into a regional Green Hub will cost €1.4 million and is being funded by the Just Transition fund, which granted funding to OLDC to drive the work.
Fiesta Hall was block built in 1961 by local butcher and builder Paddy McCormack. The property has been used as a Town Hall; District Court; ballroom dancing; music via events and showbands; drama & plays; food hall; town cinema; bingo hall and various events. It's a large building, 5,900 square feet.
This formerly active and important hub in the town looks reasonably well inside, but its exterior is something of an eyesore, bringing a bit of a depressing feel to this part of the village.
Brendan O'Loughlin, CEO of OLDC, told the meeting about the collaboration of OLDC and Green Offaly to make a successful application for Just Transition funding.
He praised the fantastic support of the Trench Trust whose assistance secured financial support for both the purchase of the premises and for providing matching funding, two factors which were critical in bringing the project to the present stage. Brendan said the Trench Trust is providing a loan to OLDC, and OLDC will eventually own the building along with Green Offaly. "The building," he remarked, "has not been used for a number of years and will be refurbished both inside in full and the exterior will be brightened up. An application for planning permission for the works to be carried out is currently with Offaly County Council and it is hoped that once planning is approved building will commence in the early summer."
Salters Sterling gave a very interesting background to the Trench Trust during the information evening, and outlined the Trust's involvement in the project.
Roisin Lennon and Rebekah Keaveny from Green Offaly outlined their ambitious plans for the centre once construction work is completed. Offaly's new Green Headquarters will be devoted to climate action research, green business enterprises and sustainability training programmes. The premises will include a research facility, an education and training facility, green business office facilities, community power programmes, sustainable mapping and working with local people to develop potential career paths in the green economy.
OLDC and Green Offaly committed to continue to provide updates to the local community as the project progresses.
The Hall will be the home for Green Offaly. Green Offaly is a not for profit countywide Green Regeneration enterprise operating as a Development Trust. Green Offaly began life as an Offaly Public Participation Network Initiative; and was devised as a solution to the Government’s Project 2040 seminar, ‘Empowering Communities in the Fight against Climate Change’.
Rebekah Keaveny, Project Development Officer of Green Offaly, told The Tribune that the Fiesta Hall project aims to facilitate the Green Regeneration of Offaly through the involvement of the people who live and work in the county.
Rebekah said Green Offaly is working in partnership with Offaly Local Development Company to deliver two key goals in OLDC's 17-goal plan. These two goals are – Creating sustainable communities; and combatting climate change.
She said Green Offaly and OLDC are focussed on transitioning Offaly to meet “both the ambitious decarbonisation targets of 2050 and the full implementation of Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. Achieving these ambitious goals is going to mean that we will all have to take partnership working to an unprecedented level. It is reassuring to know that such effective partnerships for the goals are already embedded here in Offaly.”
Róisín Lennon, Rural Development Team Leader of Offaly Local Development Company, told the Tribune that it's expected that the Fiesta Hall project will get planning permission during the first quarter of 2022, and the building work should start during the second quarter of 2022. It's hoped, she said, that the revamped premises will open its doors to the public by the third quarter of 2023.
“There will be a coffee shop at the front of the building,” said Róisín, "and behind that will be Offaly's new green headquarters." Bridie Costello of Green Offaly emphasised that the Green Headquarters will be very much a community-focussed enterprise.
Rebekah said one exciting project could be seeking UNESCO Biosphere status for Offaly's peatland region. She cited the fantastic success story of the Galloway and Southern Ayrshire Biosphere in Scotland. This special designation means that the areas chosen have been recognised internationally as a world class environment for people and nature. It recognises an area's fantastic array of landscapes, wildlife, cultural heritage and learning opportunities; all qualities which communities, businesses and visitors can experience and celebrate in a sustainable way. Biosphere status brings no new rules or regulations but rather encourages people to work together to create a better future for people and nature.