Community groups invited to use Ballinrobe Town Hall

COMMUNITY groups in Ballinrobe and surrounding regions have been invited to make use of the new town tall in the coming months before a planned major renovation of the premises.

Ballinrobe Town Hall committee, who purchased the Valkenburg complex on the town’s Main Street in 2020 with money raised locally, have confirmed that parts of the venue are now available for events that do not require a bar licence or catering facilities.

“We are inviting community groups to use the facility. We have a major redevelopment plan in place for the hall, and, in tandem with South West Mayo Development Company (SWMDC), we recently applied for €4.5m in funding from the Rural Regeneration Development Fund (RRDF). If this application is successful, we will match the grant amount with €1.2m funding, some of which is already in place, to convert the venue into something that will transform the centre of the town and prove an invaluable asset for the region,” said Michael Sweeney, chairperson.

“The RRDF announcement will come in late autumn or early winter. In the meantime, we have carried out renovation work that allows some events to take place in the Valkenburg. We have already hosted several events such as yoga, meetings and talks. We want to see people using the venue and would welcome enquiries from community groups.”

He continued: “There is a need for an event space in Ballinrobe and we are trying to meet this need as best we can in the short term, before we embark on a major redevelopment.

“Our long-term plan includes the development of a multi-purpose space with ample dressing rooms to support shows, along with community and other events throughout the complex. In particular, we have highlighted the building’s central location in the town; extensive car parking space on the street and in adjacent car parks (Church Lane, Christian Brothers and Abbey Street); and the potential for income from accommodation and a coffee shop/bistro in the venue.”

TACU Family Resource Centre are handling enquiries for the hall. Contact Ballinrobe Family Resource Centre on (094) 9542908.