Community in midlands comes together to keep local hall alive
Rathcabbin Hall was first opened in 1922 and is used by a variety of community groups all year round
RATHCABBIN Hall committee held their AGM recently with a decent representation of the local community turning out to support and plan ahead.
The present committee comprising of Chairperson: Clare Burke, vice chair: Marie O’Meara, secretary: Pat Kennedy, treasurer: Muireann Brophy, assistant secretary: Catherine Burke, assistant treasurer: Liam Dermody, committee: PJ Nevin, Johnny Brophy, Eamon O’Meara, Barry Noyce, Pat Burke, are finishing out their term of office this year.
Chairperson Clare Burke, in her address thanked everyone who use the hall and mentioned how their involvement keeps the hall “active, vibrant, and at the heart of parish life”. She praised Rathcabbin Tidy Towns people for their hard work “from the appearance of the village to the sense of community spirit and co-operation they help to foster. Their hard work enhances the area for everyone and is a wonderful example of volunteerism in action. Thanks to Denise who helps keep the weeds under control in the car park and thanks to them for using the hall.”
The local drama group were also thanked. She said “their commitment, talent, and hard work brings great enjoyment to the community year after year. We also thank them sincerely for their ongoing support of the hall and for the many evenings of entertainment they provide.
“The Ladies Club ‘deserves great recognition for another wonderful year of activity. Through art classes, craft classes, dance classes, talks, and many other events, they continue to provide an important social outlet and support network for the ladies of the parish. Their contribution to community life is invaluable and very much appreciated,” she said.
The Responders group regularly hold meetings and courses in the hall during the year. The skills and training they provide are extremely important and beneficial to the wider community. The parish pastoral council hold their meetings in the hall during the year and finally, she thanked everyone in the community, members and groups, who organised meetings and gatherings in the hall for various purposes throughout the year.
The chairperson went on to outline the upgrade works that have taken place in the hall including the wonderful work on the new toilet block complete with wheelchair-accessible toilet, cleaning etc. and on the evening of this meeting, the hall was getting a new paint make over inside.
Their next project is to resurface the hall car park, replacement and upgrading of the hall lighting and sound systems. “This is a much-needed improvement that would benefit not only the Drama Group but all hall users and events,” she said.
“We are proud to continue providing a welcoming community space that is available to groups and organisations at a reasonable and affordable cost,” she said.
Treasurer Muireann Brophy gave a very detailed audited account of the financial matters. The report showed that in order to maintain the high standards of maintenance and comfort, additional support and assistance will be needed in the future. After much discussion, it was agreed to form a sub committee to help with fundraising.
The following were elected at a follow up meeting to steer the fundraising drive, Ray Kennedy, Zara Kelly, Fiona Maher, Barbara Tierney.
They have agreed to a series of events taking place in the hall over the coming months.
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First up will be a scrap metal collection which will take place on Saturday July 25th in Rathcabbin Hall Carpark from 9am to 4pm. Collection of larger scrap can also be arranged by contacting Pat on (087) 2931 306, Eamonn at (087) 9050 833, Pat on (087) 6030 404 or Liam on (087) 9337 674. Anyone wishing to dispose of old scrap metal items, can bring them along and the committee will be delighted to get them. Please note that they cannot accept timber, plastics, mattresses, tyres, gas cylinders, cardboard, TVs, computers, fridges, freezers, cookers etc. This is a great way to clean out the shed and also helping a good cause.
Also, coming up on Sunday August 2nd a community coffee morning will be held at 12 noon in the hall. All are invited to come along and enjoy a cuppa and a chat with your neighbours.
The very popular clothes collection continues and anyone wishing to donate their old clothes can do so by calling Marie (087) 6129053, Catty on (087) 9300982. Women’s, men’s and children’s clothing and paired shoes please. No duvets please.
And the big announcement is the committee will have Michael English and his band appearing live in Rathcabbin Church on Sunday night December 20th. Tickets will go on sale at a later date but this will be one concert you can look forward to, so mark the date in your diary and watch this space for further information.
History Of The Hall
Committee member Eamonn O’Meara wrote about the Story of the Hall in the recently published “The Soul of Dorrha, the Spirit of Rathcabbin”, which can still be purchased in the Scéal shop in Lorrha, where he mentioned that the site was donated by the O’Brien family of Gurteen House back in 1918 with the building of the hall carried out entirely voluntary.
Building work continued through troubled times which included the War of Independence and the Civil War. Finally, in December 1922 the new hall was opened. All this happened with no electricity in the village, and light was provided by Tilly lamps. The back of the stage opened onto to the yard behind the hall, which wasn’t ideal when plays were being performed in the 1930s and 1940s. In the 1950s the supper room (as it is often called) was erected. This was built behind the stage and also served as a changing room.
From the very beginning, the hall was used as a place for meetings, for variety concerts and for dances.
Eamonn noted further progress when in December 1972 the hall committee held a Golden Jubilee celebration. A plaque was unveiled by George O’Brien (son of John O’Brien, Gurteen, who had donated the site). Fr Dermot Kenny CC was the Chairperson of the hall Committee at the time. John Needham, Gurteen, one of three surviving member of the original Committee was in attendance. The other surviving Committee members were James Spain, Derry and Denis Duffy, Graigue, who sent regrets for their inability to attend. A presentation was made to Daniel O’Neill, Roden, who had completed 30 years as Secretary and Treasurer of the Committee.
More works were carried out in the late 1970s when a lean-to extension was constructed. This included a kitchen, Ladies & Gents toilets, storage room and changing room. In 1986 the Hall Committee reached an agreement with Basil Kelly for a passage-way and wall to be built along the right side of the hall. This hall history also tells of the frustration of trying to acquire Deeds for the hall as grants couldn’t be availed of without them.
Another local, Pauline Walsh wrote about the very popular dancing days in the hall and it was the dancing that brought men and women in their thousands to the hall for the next sixty years. “Dancing at this time was more structured,” wrote Pauline. The music was old time, with a mixture of waltzing, and Irish dances such as The Siege of Ennis and the Walls of Limerick.
Down through the years, other activities based in the hall include quizzes, dances, discos, coffee mornings, concerts and keep-fit classes.
Rathcabbin community hall has served the local community well down through generations of Rathcabbin people. The hard work of the hall Committees since the idea of the project was first mooted in 1918 has made this possible and the good work continues.
The hall is available for any events, big or small. To book call (087) 1364936.