Newsletter
Roundstone Community Hall Refurbishment Project
Update July 5th - Progress
the Project Team met with Dr Orla Nic Suibhne, SEAI Sustainable Energy Community Mentor (Galway, Mayo), as a further aide to apply for Capital funding to reduce energy cost.
To this end there will be a Public Meeting on September 25th with the SEAI at 6.30 pm (Sustainable Energy Communities Programme) for Residents in the Community Centre to discuss upgrading local houses, and to discuss what grants are available for the year 2025.
We are delighted to advise you that our Community Centre Project Team has just received a grant allocation of €50,380.00 from the climate Action Programme which is administered by Galway County Council. This is a highly significant achievement. It is a first for Roundstone and is the second largest Grant in all of County Galway.
The primary focus of this grant is towards the upgrade of the heaters, doors, windows etc and the installation of Solar Panels on the Roof, in order to reduce energy costs (Stage 1 only).
A further Application for a Refurbishment Grant under the Department of Community and Rural Development is in preparation and will be submitted before the end of August. This Particular Application will be focused on the Roof Insulation
Background
A Community Hall Project task Force team was set up in early December 2023, consisting of seven members for the complete refurbishment of the Roundstone Community Hall, under the Banner of the Roundstone Community Development Council.
The voluntary team consists of R de S, (submissions, meetings etc) Anne Conneely, (Ideas, mentoring), Diarmuid Vaughan, (support on construction) David Scott (Legal). Des Cullen (Social Media), Greg and Anna Sweeney (Fundraising Input), Noel Thompson, Barry O’Brien (Grant Applications GCC).
The Lease, on the Community Hall with St Jarlath’s Diocesan Trust was created in 2003 for 25 years. The said lease was granted an extension from St Jarlath’s Trust for a further 25 years extended to 2048, (11th January 2024).
A climate Action Fund GCC, application and submission on behalf of RDC has now been submitted for €100K, plus €50K for repair hubs in the centre of the village. The application for this grant has been formally received. We await the outcome for stage 1, i.e. Wrapping the building with insulation, new windows, Doors, Gutters, Heating.
www.roundstoneforfun.ie with a new team was set up later by like-minded local and visitors who regularly holiday in Roundstone because of their love for the community to continue to fund raise for the refurbishment of the community Hall.
Over the last few years roundstoneforfun.ie has raised 43K. which is deposited in the RDC Bank account until such time as monies are wanted to go towards the complete refurbishment of the Hall, it is still there today.
The project team have been meeting since January 2024 every month either in person or by Zoom to continue a fund-raising programme for stage 2 & 3 i.e. new reception area, toilets and cloakroom and to add on a Balcony to the building.
It needs to be said that this is a major project to refurbish the community hall to bring it to the required standard of the climate action programme grant, but there is a sense of urgency to start work on this project as every year we wait, the hall is fast detreating, and costs for repairs will mount each year.
So, to date a GoFundMe has been set up on the www.roundstoneforfun.ie. website which is now linked to the www.roundstonevillage.ie. Every penny counts, so help us to build the Community and help us to fix our Community Centre.
Please Donate Now!!
To further fundraising events roundstoneforfun.ie. will run another Dinner & Dancing evening in the Community Hall 10th August 8pm 2024 (details to follow). Tickets can be purchased online, also can be purchased at the Roundstone Post Office.
SO PLEASE COME TO OUR SUMMER PARTY 10th August 2024
For further information attached is a construction of stage 1 drawing of the village Hall (courtesy Diarmuid Vaughan) with photos showing the Halls poor state, also with the added GoFundMe donations link, with updated monthly newsletters as this project unfolds.