Kilfenora Hall Committee is inviting all Kilfenora residents to contribute their thoughts to creating a strategy for the Hall. A public consultation meeting is to take place between 5 and 7pm on Sunday 4 October to discuss how to future-proof the Community Hall, with 4 topics listed for special attention – building and maintenance, finance and management, activities (across the ages) and volunteering. Children are welcome to attend with parents, and refreshments will be provided.
History and context
Kilfenora Hall was built in the 1950s by Tommy Hogan, and acquired later for the community by the Catholic Church. It was renovated and publicly re-opened in 1984 by the President of Ireland, Patrick Hillery; famously, Kitty Linnane had the clout to be able to telephone the President and invite him to do this. The Hall has been the location for many memorable social events – with many céilís featuring the Kilfenora Céilí Band in the past – and for sports activities, including for many years hosting the Kilfenora Boxing Club. And of course many fine play productions have taken place in the Hall over the decades.
The Hall has received new investment in recent times, helping to make it warmer and better equipped. More internal renovation is still required, and there is a specific intention for the Hall (in collaboration with the Burren Visitor Centre) to act as an emergency hub, learning lessons from Storm Eowyn last year.
However, there is much that could be done to make the Hall a more vibrant centre of community activity, and it is with this in mind that the Hall Committee in conjunction with the Tidy Towns team has launched this new strategy project and invited the community to contribute their thoughts.
