Kilcullen community childcare sees its future

The kids were excited ... you could see it in their faces and hear it in their voices as they came through the doors of the new Kilcullen Community Childcare and Education Centre, writes Brian Byrne.

But the staff — playgroup leader Eilis Keogh and Christine Nugent — and the committee who had worked against all sorts of difficulties to get the facility in place were thrilled.

And as for the parents ... well, take a guess.

As soon as most had arrived, scissors were handed out to the youngsters, and there was a combined cutting (shredding?) of the ribbon to mark the unofficial opening of the Centre.

It is indeed some Centre, with rooms for babies, toddlers, and two playrooms for the older kids. A large and bright reception area, with space for waiting parents ("they used to have to queue out in the rain, outside the Portacabins," Eilish Keogh recalled), and schelves and cupboards for storing their things.

There's also a secure outside play area, with a covered section to cater for Irish weather. Security too is paramount for the children's rooms area, with access by keypad code only. In the back are a kitchen and a staff room, a shower, storage space, and each of the playrooms have attached areas for coats and boots to be left while the business of the day is going on.

"It's also very warm," Christine Nugent commented as things got under way this morning. "Often in the Portacabins, we'd still be bundled up in jumpers and coats at this time."

There are just three weeks to go before end of activities for the summer, which will give everybody a chance to finish the details and furnishings in the new building. There are 26 children on the rolls for the year ending this month.

"Next year we'll be able to have 22 children in the large room, and 11 in the smaller," Eilish says. "From September 2014 we'll still just be operating the playgroup, but in 2015 we're planning to introduce the before- and after-school service, as well as the Homework Club."

There's a lot of looking back on this story that hasn't been pretty, and you can do so here. But now there's a lot of looking forward to do, and it's all good.

The new Kilcullen Community Childcare & Education Centre was built with local community donations, Kildare Leader funding, funds from Kildare County Council, and a loan. The work was carried out by Kennycourt Developments, with project management by Martin Murphy.