Renovation of east Mayo community centre proceeds

RENOVATION works on Knock Community Centre are due to be completed this summer.

The project to revitalise the centre is taking place in two phases, with a contractor appointed and works underway this month.

An update on Knock Community Futures social media explained how the community centre committee put together a revised specification to bring the cost of the refurbishment works in line with the grant amount of €300,000 awarded through the Community Centre Investment Fund.

Following a first tender process, and after taking advice, it was decided not to go down the route of taking out a €150,000 loan and instead they opted to do the works in two phases.

On advice from Pobal, the committee overhauled the full programme of works to include only the most essential elements of the project for now.

This means that upstairs will be finished at a later date when more grant aid and donations are received.

Local fundraising initiatives have raised the necessary funding needed to allow the first stage of the project proceed and the committee has extended thanks to everyone for their support to date.

After submitting a revised quote and applying for an extension on the finishing date, the committee received permission to proceed before Christmas.

Contractor Kellman Developments Ltd., who are based in Hollymount, have been appointed to the project, with works starting this month, to hopefully be complete by July.

Funds will be needed by the committee for furnishing and finishing some of the work, and they have appealed to anyone who has yet to donate to consider supporting this much-needed community building. Donations can be dropped into Knock Post Office, or posted directly to treasurer Rachael Salmon, Cloonternane, Knock. Please include your name, address and email so your donation can be acknowledged.