20th anniversary celebrations at Bridge Centre in Killyleagh

20th anniversary celebrations at Bridge Centre in Killyleagh

11 September 2019

THE Bridge Community Centre in Killyleagh has celebrated its 20th anniversary.

To mark the occasion, Newry, Mourne and Down Council vice-chairman Terry Andrews presented the centre’s deputy manager, Roy Kelly, with a special plaque last Saturday.

A community fun day was also organised to mark the special anniversary with past and present members of the Bridge Steering Committee — which lobbied for the community building to be constructed — were also present.

Cllr Andrews said he was “delighted” to present the plaque to centre staff and highlighted the key role the facility has played at the heart of the Killyleagh community over the past two decades.

He also praised the various agencies who provided funding for the Bridge Community Centre, a building which he said continues to go from strength to strength.

Also at last week’s 20th anniversary celebrations was Rowallane councillor, Billy Walker.

He was a member of the original committee established which campaigned for the new centre which he said has made an “enormous contribution to Killyleagh”.

Cllr Walker paid tribute to everyone involved in the campaign including the late Oliver Priestly and Joyce McClurg.

“The steering committee worked particularly hard to deliver the new centre which is phenomenally well used and is at the heart of the Killyleagh community,” he said.

“The building is testament to the hard work of so many people and indeed the former Down Council which committed to help deliver the project when the campaign was launched.”

Cllr Walker said celebrating the building’s 20th anniversary “marked a real milestone” and brought many benefits to the town.

In addition, he said it was important to remember all the individuals and organisations who worked very hard to deliver a centre which is now one of the most environmentally friendly of its kind, thanks to a number of innovative green energy measures.

Cllr Walker said it is now time to look forward to the next 20 years and believes that the time is approaching when an extension will be required to allow the Bridge Community Centre cope with increasing demand.

He added: “Congratulations to those involved in organising last weekend’s 20th anniversary celebrations. It is terrific that Killyleagh has such a community building which it can be very proud of.”