Teconnaught community hub opening

Teconnaught community hub opening

22 January 2020

A NEW era dawned at Teconnaught GAC on Saturday. An impressive new community hub at the Rann Road was officially opened by Newry, Mourne and Down Council vice-chairman Terry Andrews.

Also there to perform the ribbon cutting was GAA pundit Joe Brolly.

The new community hub consists of a social hub/café area, multi-use hall, meeting room, gym/training area and changing/shower amenities.

These new facilities will provide access to a range of services previously unavailable and will enable the local community to deliver and facilitate innovative cross-community services such as health workshops, day centre activities for older people, and training for volunteers in relation to topics such as safeguarding and health and safety.

The facility will also deliver a range of sports and leisure activities for all ages and abilities, and has already established a new walking club. 

Grant funding from the Rural Basic Services Scheme of the Northern Ireland Rural Development Programme 2014-2020, funded by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development, and administered by Mourne, Gullion and Lecale Rural Partnership’s Local Action Group, under the Leader approach was provided to this project along with a significant contribution from Newry, Mourne and Down Council.

Among those in attendance were Baroness Margaret Ritchie, South Down MP Chris Hazzard, local MLAs, councillors and DAERA officials, as well as club members and officials. 

Opening the community hub, Cllr Andrews said: “The funding provided by the Rural Development Partnership has provided grant assistance towards this worthwhile project for the Teconnaught community.

“This facility will help improve many aspects of rural dwellers lives within the area, offering the opportunity to develop projects to address a wide range of social and economic issues. Overall, the new facility will be a wonderful addition to local community.”

Roisin Mulgrew, chairperson of Mourne, Gullion and Lecale Rural Partnership’s Local Action Group, Roisin Mulgrew, said she was delighted Teconnaught GAC had been awarded £380,000 of Basic Services funding.

“The Local Action Group members and stakeholders have been instrumental in delivering a range of funding to local community groups with Teconnaught GAC a prime example of local need being met,” she said.

“The Local Action Group are pleased with the outcome of this project and how it will deliver for the future development of the rural community.” 

Jerome Burns, Contract Manager, Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs said: “The Leader Programme, through which this project has been funded, enables local people to determine the needs of their own area and decide how best to address these and this is an excellent example of how the Programme is delivering on the ground.

“I have every confidence that Teconnaught GAC, with its extensive number of dedicated volunteers and committee members will enable this project to reach its full potential and be a resounding success for the future”.

The community hub will publish a schedule of new activities in early 2020.