This month sees the opening of the new Community, Sports & Social Centre at Knockdoemore. The centre comprises four changing rooms, an assembly room, exercise rooms, kitchen and meeting rooms will be able to cater for the hundreds of adults and children in the community wishing to avail of the facility.
The site for the Centre was provided by Claregalway GAA Club while the local Community Development Company, Cairde Mór, came on board to help fund-raise and plan the facilities. After close to two years of planning and grant applications, Grant-aid was finally approved in August 2014 and the work to publish tenders and secure the contractors began in earnest. Local company, Kesel Construction Ltd were awarded the tender and the building activity took off with a flurry through the Autumn. The result was a very quick and efficient build-out. As always, the finances were the biggest challenge but thanks to the loan capital received from Claregalway GAA and members of the community, the project stayed on schedule and the Centre is now a reality. The Centre has wonderful scope for future further development and will cater well for the ever increasing young population.
Further developments in Knockdoemore Park over the coming years will include the construction of a walkway and cycle path and the extension of pitches and all weather playing facilities. “The whole Knockdoemore Centre and future Park developments are a shining example to all of what can be achieved when like-minded people, Sports and Community organisations get together and work towards a common goal—in this case, better facilities for our young people and a common desire to plan positively for future generations,” said Cairde Mór Chairman, John Morrin, this week.
