Aisling Dolan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Our guests visiting Leinster House, Josephine Kelly and Margaret Rogerson, represent Ahascragh-Fohenagh in County Galway. They are here because we were fundraising for a community centre in Ahascragh. People might remember that area was made famous by Seán Moncrieff in "Don’t Feed the Gondolas" way back when. This town does not have a community centre. Currently, the old hall is condemned. We are fundraising for a new hall so that they will be able to demolish that and rebuild a new community centre. As part of that fundraising, Ahascragh community area association and development group was bringing people together to say they have access to a school hall where people are able to meet. It is an old school that was closed. Currently, that is the temporary meeting place. There is no where for people to meet in Ahascragh-Fohenagh at all. This is the crucial nature of the funds for community centres that from the Department of Rural and Community Development. We need funding for community centres and halls in rural areas in order to support community groups. In the parish, the bishop has gifted a site to the community group for them to move forward with this, so it is crucial we see funding coming in to support a community centre. Our guests today are part of the group that was fundraising for that.

Not to forget, Ahascragh-Fohenagh is competing on many different levels – not just one – in terms of a famous son like Philip Treacy, the milliner from Ahascragh, and also in hurling. They had an amazing match only last week with Mullagh, which resulted in an incredible draw. There is a replay in about a week’s time. We will be wishing Ahascragh-Fohenagh the best because it is an amazing place. Amazing investment has been going into that area as well thanks to the Ahascragh Distillery and mill. It is a wonderful investment into a local, rural area. We also need to see a community centre and recognise the importance of funding for that community centre as well.