Critical Community Centre lease is signed

Members of the Kilcullen Community Centre Board at the signing of a 999-year lease.

An important milestone for Kilcullen Community Centre was reached last night with the signing of a 999-year lease on part of the campus property, writes Brian Byrne. The document replaces a short-term one which had inhibited improvement and the provision of further amenities.

The lease was signed at the 2025 AGM of the Community Centre Company, by outgoing chair Cathy Phelan who expressed thanks on behalf of everyone present to Ronan Murphy for his work with the Cross and Passion Sisters in resolving the issue. "Nobody knows the amount of work he put into this," she said. "He was like a dog with a bone, and by God he wasn't going to let go of it." She said that without this lease agreement, "the Community Centre could not exist now."

The chair also thanked manager Enda O'Neill for his input into the process, and Martin Murphy who had been 'more than generous with his time' in providing maps and revisions to them as the project progressed.

For his part, in a summary of how the matter had been resolved, Ronan Murphy paid tribute to Sr Maire from the Cross & Passion Sisters. "Without her we would not now have this," he said. "We started the process in 2017, then we had Covid, and then we had problems with maps and some legal issues. But we're now there. Sr Maire was behind us all the way and supported us and we owe her a great deal of thanks for what she has done." 

The meeting heard that Sr Maire had planned to come to the AGM for the signing but late circumstances had prevented that. It is hoped to have her come to a future meeting.

Those present were told that the resolution of the lease issue now means that the centre is in a position to apply for capital and other grants which were not possible before.

The meeting also heard reports from the treasurer Daragh Fitzgerald and from manager Enda O'Neill. In the election of Board and officers, Cathy Phelan stepped down and Orla Crehan was elected as the new chair. Secretary Ann Sheridan also stepped down with Colleen Devine elected to the role. Daragh Fitzgerald was re-elected as Treasurer.

Pictured above at the signing are (back) Enda O’Neill, Manager; Colm Mullens, Board Member; Steve Kinneavey, Board Member; Orla Crehan, incoming Chairperson; Jimmy Cahill, Board Member; Jer Delaney, Board Member, and Derek Phelan. Front: Daragh Fitzgerald, Treasurer; Cathy Phelan, outgoing Chairperson and Board Member; Ronan Murphy, Board Member and Ann Sheridan, outgoing Secretary.

(The Diary will post further detailed reports from the AGM over the coming week.)

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