This article is from page 33 of the 2007-04-03 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 33 JPG
RESIDENTS in Drumgeely will meet with Shannon council officials today, in an effort to find answers to questions regarding the local com- munity hall, which was destroyed by fire four months ago.
The blaze totally destroyed the derelict building last November. The hall had been the property of Shan- non Development until 1992 but was taken over by a private company then, which sparked mixed reaction.
The fire brought to an end con- troversy which had raged over the years, as locals were concerned that the hall was taken away from them.
The Drumgeely Residents Asso-
ciation now wants to know what the future of the hall will hold.
They have requested the meeting with council officials and council- lors in the Shannon area. They are concerned that the site has been in a poor state since the fire gutted the olepelennerce
They say that it is not safe and a valuable site is left in a disused State.
Chairperson of the Residents As- sociation, Beatrice Keville said they just want answers.
“We are very unhappy that the remnants of the fire are still there. The major part has been cleared, but there is still debris on the site,’ said Ms Keville.
“It had been lying unused for years and is such a shame,” she said.
‘Four months on, the site has not been totally cleared and is again derelict. The residents wrote to the gardai expressing concern about the fire and asking for information. They were told “investigations were ongoing”, nothing has been heard since,” she said.
She said that some locals would love to see the area converted into a tennis court, which it was previously used as.
“We are hopeful they will let us know what is happening. It has been going on for sO many years, and is in a state of limbo,” she said.
“Something has to happen. We
asked them at the last meeting, but we got no reply. The only thing we have been told is that it is privately owned,” added Ms Keville.
“Before shops and schools were built in the then new town of Shan- non, Drumgeely Community Hall was where these and social needs were met. Drumgeely was the first residential area of Shannon and was a thriving place, with a great com- munity spirit. There was an active tennis club, one of the first sporting clubs in Shannon,” she said.
Prior to last year’s fire, the hall had been damaged by another fire, in August 2001.
Only the annex was left standing ANAK amo etelme pales Ce(oyNlm