High public turn-out for presentation of proposed Community Centre in Kildare

Between 30 and 40 members of the public were present in the Chamber of Kildare County Council (KCC)’s headquarters for a presentation on a proposed community centre in Maynooth.

The crowd were sat in the public gallery of the Chamber during the latest Clane-Maynooth Municipal District meeting, which was held on Friday, February 2 last.

The presentation explored the proposed layout and planned facilities for Maynooth.

One of the presenters, Mary Jennings (the Chairperson of the voluntary organisation Maynooth Community Council) described Maynooth as being 'a designated key town' and pointed to its growing population, but also its 'deficit in social, cultural and amenity infrastructure.'

In particular, she mentioned the closure of the town’s Parish Centre and public swimming pool, and as such, these issues facilitated the need for a community centre for Maynooth.

Ms Jennings said that KCC was inspired to build a civic / arts centre in the vein of the ones present in Belmullet in County Mayo and Thurles in County Tipperary.

She noted that such centres have given rise to the careers of numerous actors, and in the case of Maynooth, pointed to film star Paul Mescal.

Ms Jennings also pointed to Maynooth’s potential to be 'a ten-minute town.'

Another presenter, Reverend Doctor Keith McCrory, discussed the specific plans for centre.

The proposed centre would include: a main hall, which could be used for various occasions and purposes; sports courts; a picnic area; a crèche and children’s playground; a café; changing rooms, which would include disability-friendly facilities; meeting rooms; an office / reception area; youth and education rooms; and audio-visual and family rooms.

The third and final presenter, Teresa Murray, who is also the vice-Chairperson of Maynooth Community Council, said: "We are very lucky to live in this very beautiful and historic town."

"We are so looking forward to this development, and also to the completion of the Harbour Field," she added.

Ms Murray further said: "We have a huge, interested community and we are always ready to talk to people."

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In response to the presentation, Green Party Cllr Peter Hamilton, Fianna Fáil Cllr Daragh Fitzpatrick and Fianna Fáil Cllr Naoise Ó Cearúil (the latter appeared at the meeting via a video-call).

Labour Party Cllr Angela Feeney also said that she supported the motion, and added that there is a present concern that certain people in the town 'are lonely or isolated.'

Independent Cllr Pádraig McEvoy noted that while he resides in Clane and mostly represents the residents of the town, he also supported the proposed development.

He also praised KCC for their work in Maynooth in recent years.

Fianna Fáil Cllr Paul Ward said that the presenter’s comments stressing the need for a community centre for Maynooth was 'word for word Kilcock’s position a few years ago.'

Cllr Ward added: "I am sure that every councillor here would support you, and I wish you all the very best of luck with this development."

Chairperson of the meeting, Fine Gael Cllr Tim Durkan, welcomed the development, and also pointed to Maynooth’s growing population and 'packed (current) services.'