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Ballyneety Community Officially launch new facilities

Ballyneety Community Officially Launch New Facilities. Picture: Keith Wiseman

Ballyneety Community Officially launch new facilities

Ballyneety Community Development Association (BCDA) has officially launched its two latest project initiatives: an indoor innovation hub and an all-weather Astroturf pitch.

The unveiling took place as several hundred residents and community members from Ballyneety and the surrounding areas witnessed local Limerick hurling superstar, Barry Nash cut the ribbon, officially declaring the facilities open for use.


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The Ballyneety Community Development Association, established in 2016 to plan and develop community initiatives for the benefit of members from the Ballyneety community, launched their first project, a 3.2 km walking track traversing the perimeter of the local gold club and the Ballyneety village, in May 2017.

Ballyneety Community

Ballyneety Community Officially Launch New Facilities Picture: Keith Wiseman

The two new facilities, located on the grounds of Ballyneety Golf Club, Co. Limerick are for use by members of the community and surrounding hinterland, in a bid to grow, nurture and maintain the culture of support and strong community spirit.

The new indoor hub facility is home to office hot desk spaces, Wi-Fi, a meeting room, kitchen area and a large multipurpose room. The indoor hub can cater for meetings, social activities and sports activities.

BCDA committee members Brid Lang and Olivia Hayes highlighted some of the activities taking place at the facilities and said,  “We are delighted with the take up from local enterprising community members who have committed to availing of the new facilities and set up their local businesses for social participation and learning.

“A very encouraging number of community and Ballyneety Golf Club members, as well as representatives from Ballyhoura Development Board and the Limerick City & County Council attended the official opening, with everyone both enthusiastic and overwhelmed by what had been achieved in such a short period of time. A week after the opening, and following the significant take-up in activity,” Brid and Olivia added.

The BCDA committee members said, “The excitement and enthusiasm were infectious. It’s been a real partnership from everyone involved.”

Including the walking track, which opened in May 2017, this brings the total number of project initiatives developed by BCDA to three. This was made possible by a very generous private donation, support from the Ballyhoura Development CLG, with funding under the Leader Programme 2018 and numerous hours of voluntary work.

The BCDA welcomes all local support and looks forward to working with instructors, tutors, course facilitators and soccer/football enthusiasts, to help them put Ballyneety to the top of their agenda in terms of a location for rolling out activities. We have a database of approximately 340 email addresses that we can reach out to regarding activities in the innovation hub and on the AstroTurf pitch.

The BCDA is a non-profit making organisation, the cost of hiring the facilities is solely to cover the maintenance costs and raise funds for expenses into the future. Their journey is just commencing in terms of fundraising. A ‘Go Fund Me’ page has been set up to enable the final fit-out of the facilities and all donations are gratefully appreciated. 

For the donations click here.

For more stories on Ballyneety Community click here. 

Richard is a presenter, producer, songwriter and actor. He was named the Limerick Person of the Year (2011) and won an online award at the Metro Éireann Media and Multicultural Awards (2011) for promoting multi-culturalism online. Richard says that the ilovelimerick.com concept is very much a community driven project that aims to document life in Limerick. So, that in 20 years time people can look back and remember the events that were making the headlines.