This article is from page 7 of the 2014-12-16 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 7 JPG
Although Slough Hall began life as a mess hall for the army, it was better known locally as a dancehall during the Irish show band era of the 1950’s and ‘60’s. The barracks was also the home of Irish League basketball in Clare during the 1980’s and early 1990. In more recent years the hall has hosted a number of productions by the local Ennistymon Choral Society as well as other community organisations. Slaugh Hall and the Army Barracks, which lie on a prime stretch of land between the Old (Championship) Course and Castle Course in Lahinch, was purchased from the Irish Defense Forces by Lahinch Golf Course for € 560,000 earlier this year. At the time a last ditch attempt was made by members of local community to raise enough money to purchase the property on behalf of the local community, but the attempt was unsuccessful. Local campaigners had hoped that the land, which borders the Lahinch Community Field, could be retained in community ownership and developed as a community centre and amenity park.