This article is from page 12 of the 2013-01-15 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 12 JPG
THE ambitious plans to develop a new cultural centre in Kilkishen have received the ringing endorsement of government this week, following confirmation that the project is to be grant aided to the tune of nearly € 400,000.
On Monday, the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Phil Hogan, gave the green light for the Clare Local Development Company to approve funding of € 386,193 to Kilkishen Development Limited for the new centre.
The money for the new community and cultural centre, that will be located in the old Protestant Church in Kilkishen, has been allocated under the conservation and heritage stand of the Rural Development Programme 2007-2013.
The proposed works are estimated to cost in the region of € 550,000 and, under the plans set out by the development association, are envisaged to take up to three years to complete fully.
The church was acquired by the Kilkisken Development Association in 2011 when after many years they were given the green light by Clare County Council to develop it as a cultural centre for the parish.
The church was built in 1811 and held services right up until 1964, but lay idle for 47 years before development association’s dream of transforming the building into a place of pilgrimage for the arts in East Clare started taking shape with the launch of the Kilkishen Church Restoration Project.
“The new development will provide a supervised social and advice centre for all the community, especially young people and the aged,” a spokesperson for the Kilkishen Development Association, that is chaired by Mike Hogan, revealed.
“The building will act as an information centre with an interactive visual display providing information on the local area including amenities and local history.
“Local heritage artifacts will be on display. It will be a starting point for walking trails and loop walks,” the spokesperson added.
The development, which is set to be completed in 2014, will comprise two different elements – the conservation and restoration of the existing church building and the construction of a new extension.