Galway community centre gets green light for renovation 50 years after becoming a bingo hall
A local bingo hall and community centre built in Ballinasloe, Co Galway has been approved to extend and renovate its facility.
Kilconnell Hall has been approved by Galway City Council planning offices to extend its main hall used as a social hub.
The plans sought permission to demolish an existing small extension to the rear of the hall and construct a larger one with a meeting area, kitchen, store, and accessible toilet facilities.
Galway City planning offices granted approval on August 26 with nine standard conditions.
A spokesperson from the community hall told the Irish Independent: “The hall has held many events over the years but its design with one large space and one very small space is not suitable for medium-sized grous meeting as the (supper room) is not big enough and the main dance hall is too big and harder to heat.”
Built in the 1940s, the hall was used for social dances then transitioned into a bingo hall in November 1975. The Kilconnell Bingo event recently celebrated it’s 50th anniversary with the community.
“With 800+ people going through our doors every month the community hall continues to be an important focal point locally. We aim to provide an inclusive experience for all in our community,” they added hoping to also offer the hall as a local place of refuge during extreme weather events in the future.
Brendan Hogan, chairperson and Martin Gormally, treasurer. © Kilconnell Hall Committee
At this time, Kilconnell Communtiy Hall continues to wait for a decision from the community centres investment fund grant scheme to further modernise the building.