CELEBRATION: Fifty years of success at community's ' beating heart' in Offaly to be marked

An article in the 3^rd of April, 1976 edition of the Tribune started like this, “Speaking in symbolic terms, the local church might be described as the “soul” of a parish, the school as the “mind” of the parish and the hall or meeting place as its “heart.” Therefore, it could be said that the parishioners of Killoughey were celebrating successful completion of a heart transplant operation when they gathered on Sunday night for the formal blessing and opening of their new Community Centre, which is situated in Mountbolus village and which replaces the now worn out “heart” that has helped to keep life flowing in parochial veins over the past 66 years.

"The surgical team responsible for the “operation” was the special committee set up to organise building of the new centre. Their task has taken about six years….. The opening of the Centre was preceded on Sunday evening by an inter-denomination blessing ceremony performed by Rev. C. McGreevy, C. C. and the Church of Ireland Rector, Canon R. H. Boyle. Present were also the Parish Priest, V. Rev. A Shaw, and Rev. A. Ripsin, C.C., Kilcormac.”

On the 29^th of March this year, exactly 50 years to the day, after the opening of the new Community Centre in Mountbolus, Killoughey Parish will celebrate with a Coffee Morning and Bake Sale in the Community Centre and a small ceremony to celebrate 50 years of a beating heart. The executive of the original committee will be represented by Michael Mahon, Blacklion, chairman.

Other members of that committee, now deceased, RIP, were Michael Healion, vice-chairman: Ronnie Bryant, secretary; Patrick (Paddy) Murphy, assistant secretary; Hughie Mullen, joint-treasurer; Michael Healion, joint-treasurer. The committee mulled over the name for the new “heart” and since there had been so much effort put in by the entire parish, they decided on Parish of Killoughey Community Centre.

But down through the years, the Centre was known simply as Mountbolus Community Centre, even though the “Grand Opening Dance,” admission 70p, was advertised as being in Killoughey Community Centre, Mountbolus, one week after the official opening.

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When Mountbolus/Killoughey Community Centre was the only social centre in the parish, everything happened there. The centre was home to the ICA until they disbanded, Na Piarsaigh, youth GAA, the GAA until after the merger of Killoughey and Kilcormac and a clubhouse was built in Kilcormac, the IFA until Ard Aoibhinn provided a smaller, more suitable venue. Macra Na Feirme and Macra Na Feirme/Foroige met there, so it became the home of debates, public speaking, and Queen of the Land selection dances.

Yes, there were dances, socials, céilí’s, Irish dance classes, social dancing classes, line-dancing classes. Whist was held every Tuesday night, and if badminton wanted to use the hall on Monday night, they had to set up tables, as many as 25, and chairs, and take them down again on Wednesday and sweep the floor, before they could play. Darma was big during the 80’s and 90’s, both from Macra Na Feirme and the Drama club. Triona Daly had painted a huge mural on the back of the stage, that often got covered with sets for the plays.

Scor Na Óige Competitions took place with music, Irish dancing, and craic. Remember the Youth Club when the Gorry’s were here? That was the beginning of the indoor soccer nights for youth. One of the guest speakers at the Opening Night on 29 March was from Social Services and he spoke of chiropody clinics and “Old Folks” dinners which grew into the Senior Citizens Christmas Parties.

Around the time of the Christmas Dinner was the Christmas Sale of Work with the Raffle Wheel presided over by Ronnie Bryant. Macra Na Feirme may have held a Mock Wedding in the Hall as part of their drama, but Siobhan Daly, daughter of Joe Daly who oversaw the plumbing of the hall and Anne Daly, and Noel Bradley, son of Patrick and Mary Bradley, Castletown, Kinnitty, held their wedding reception in the Hall after their wedding in the near-by church. Local schools have made good use of the Community Centre.

Mountbolus holds some special PE activity classes there. Ballyboy, Coolanarney and Mountbolus hold school concerts there. Refreshments are served after First Holy Communions and Confirmations so the classes have a few minutes together before going to their own celebrations.

Various Hall committees have organised Sports Days to involve more children. Barbecues for social events or as a fund-raiser have been held. In more recent times, there have been classes—traditional crafts, wreath making, art for children to name a few. Have you been there to vote? Did you attend the Thorne of Killoughey? Remember when the church was being renovated and redecorated, did you attend Mass in the Community Centre? Were you at one of the auctions? Did you bring or buy or both? Two activities have been consistent throughout the 50 years of the Hall.

The badminton club organised on 13 of October 1976, and will be 50 years going this October. Refreshments after funerals have been held here since the opening of the Community Centre. In the early years, the ICA looked after the refreshments. Then it was the Hall committee. In recent times, the refreshments are often catered in. This is not a definitive list of activities, but some of the outstanding ones, and some of the highlights.

When Terry Doran became chairman of the Hall Committee, some renovation work and redecorating took place. The estimated cost was £6,000, so the Committee went back to the parish for fundraising.

Since this involved the entire Parish of Killoughey, he decreed, and the committee agreed, that the building would be “Killoughey Community Centre,” and all groups using the Hall would call themselves Killoughey as part of their name. Fundraisers included such social events as a jiving competition, a ballad session, a badminton marathon, and a bed push from Mountbolus to Tullamore.

A hospital bed was borrowed for the big occasion and the patient was a giant teddy bed who’s neck had been ripped open by a dog.

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The big renovation took place when Danny Owens was chairman. The stage was removed and the back part of the Hall floored over. The kitchen was expanded. The back room, which had become storage, was reconfigured to become the toilet area for men, women, and disabled.

Since the renovations were helped with a Sports Grant, showers were added. Ramps were added to enter the front door and from the main hall to the Supper/Meeting room. A container was added outside for storage. A new fan heating system was installed in the main hall.

The current committee, under the stewardship of Tommy Phelan, have added tables and chairs, some much needed kitchen equipment, especially a dishwasher and new Burco boilers, and new plates, cups, and cutlery. They host the Coffee Morning and Bake Sale the first Sunday every month, or as announced, to get more of the Parish members to come in and use the Community Centre.

And yes, Killoughey Community Centre belongs to the community. You only have to look at the roof, the crowning achievement of this Hall Committee, but they could not have removed the old asbestos and replaced it without the help of Killoughey parishioners and the many others that so generously donated to the fund to draw down the grant. And special thanks to the Ashling Murphy Fund for their donation.

Yes, the “beating heart” of Killoughey would be nearly unrecognisable if some of the first committee could come back for a look. The building has changed, but it’s purpose is still the same, be a social centre for whatever activity community members want to hold in it. There may be more surgery in the form of renovations and redecoration, but may the “beating heart” of Killoughey continue beating for another 50 years or more.