Funding announced today will complete Teach na nDaoine
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| The project in 2019 and, inset, Liz Moloney. |
An award of €28,530 from the Town and Village Renewal scheme will enable the completion of interior works on the Teach na nDaoine project, writes Brian Byrne.
The centre will then be able to open its doors to senior citizens of Kilcullen and the surrounding area. "While there may be some small pockets of work left to be done, this funding was crucial to complete the essential works," says Cllr Tracey O'Dwyer, welcoming the funding this morning. She also extended congratulations to Liz Moloney and the committee of the project for getting it to this stage.
Also welcoming the move, Minister of State Martin Heydon noted that the money is part of €209,930 allocated to five projects in Kildare today. "Teach na nDaoine will be a great resource for the older citizens of Kilcullen and its surrounding areas," he said.
Liz Moloney told the Diary this morning that this is 'absolutely brilliant' news, and the committee will be meeting shortly to decide how to go about having the work completed.
The project was initiated in 2015, involving the refurbishment of the old HSE Dispensary and the building of a large extension which will allow a range of facilities to be provided, such as activity areas, kitchen facilities, a lounge, coffee dock and dining room, and a community garden. Planning permission was granted in late 2016, and statutory certifications from various organisations including the county Fire Service were completed in August 2017.
Up to 2018, the funds gathered towards the estimated €190,000 cost had reached €65,000, including €45,000 from the National Lottery. The balance raised had come from a range of small and large events organised in the community, as well as private donations. In summer of 2019 it was estimated that around €35,000 more would be needed to complete the project.
The arrival of the pandemic in early 2020 closed down further fundraising and work on the premises. "But even if we'd had it completed, it couldn't have been used because of the restrictions," Liz Moloney says. "Now it's full steam ahead."
