Sod turned on Newcastle Community Centre after 50-year campaign
It is hoped the doors of the new facility will open by the end of 2027, according to Chairperson of the Newcastle Combined Community Association, Seamus Davey.
He said it was “a proud day” and the “culmination of a lot of effort from a close-knit team”.
Speaking at the event, he recalled the 50-year journey to bring the project to fruition and paid tribute to those who championed it from the start – especially those who have since passed away before seeing construction finally begin.
“It was first mooted in 1973,” he said, “when the estates were being constructed. We never lost hope. This is an exciting project and a significant boost to the neighbourhood.
“We remember those who committed their time and effort to the project, many of whom are now deceased.”
He described the challenges involved in securing funding, explaining how the association had to “give a sales pitch” to Minister Dara Calleary and how an entirely new strand of State investment for community centres in urban areas was required.
Mr Davey paid special tribute to former Minister Heather Humphreys, who was also in attendance at the ceremony, for her commitment to the new scheme.
The Newcastle Community Centre project received €4.34 million under the Community Centres Investment Fund 2023 – New Build Measure, launched by then Minister Humphreys to support the development of new community facilities across the country.
Having purchased the site from Galway City Council in 2008, the funding boost proved the catalyst needed for the NCCA team to get the project underway.
He also thanked Minister Dara Calleary and Galway City Council for additional top-up funding “which has allowed us to progress” and joked that “we will be hassling you post-construction for subvention funding”.
In his address to the gathered crowd, Minister Calleary paid tribute to Ms Humphreys and said “thank you, Heather, for leaving it for the rest of us to turn the sod”.
“I knew there was a drive and ambition to get this done,” he said.
“In 2023, along came Heather with her magic wand and cheque book with the Community Centres Investment Fund.”
He described the event as a “statement of determination on the part of this community” and said the centre would be more than its four walls, serving as a place to gather and an “anchor point for good and challenging times”.
While acknowledging the hard work of the community, there was also time for humour.
“Mayo always has to keep this city going,” he joked.
“We have a competition in the Department to see which centre can get open first. This is not the end of the journey. This is the start of the next chapter.”
He encouraged more volunteers to become involved, saying a community effort would be required to keep the centre running.
“You can't depend on the same people to do the work all the time,” he cautioned.
Director of Services with Galway City Council, Derek Pender, described the event as a “huge milestone” and a credit to the “determination of Newcastle”.
He added that “persistence and leadership have brought us to this point”.
Those sentiments were echoed by Chief Executive of Galway City Council, Leonard Cleary, who said it was the sheer will of local people and their “voluntary sustained advocacy” that had brought the project to this point.
“This is the beginning of the construction phase,” he said. “This is a shared vision of a stronger, healthier and more connected community. It will serve the needs of the people of Newcastle for many years to come.”
In his final address as Mayor of Galway City, Cllr Mike Cubbard (Ind) highlighted the significance of the occasion.
“This has additional significance as this is my final event as Mayor,” he said. “It is very special to me as, in 2019, I was proud to get the conversation started again and put forward my €15,000 of LIS funding to get the ball rolling. It was an important day in the council chamber.
“Our former Chief Executive said the vision shown and the presentation made was the best he had ever seen. It shows what can be achieved when we work together and it will be a focal point for sport, recreation and learning.”
Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.