This article is from page 14 of the 2011-04-05 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 14 JPG
MEMBERS of Smith O’Briens GAA club in Killaloe are to spearhead a new initiative to build a community centre in Killaloe, thanks to a novel venture that will see up to a thousand parishioners help fund the project.
In what has been labelled as “the community helping themselves”, a fundraising scheme has been devised whereby people in Killaloe, Bridget own and O’Brien’s Bridge will become “investors and stakeholders” in Killaloe Community Development project.
“What we’re doing is having an investors draw,” said community activist and former county councillor Tony O’Brien.
“The whole concept is tailored to try and suit the fact that we’re living in a recession.
“We are going out into the community to try and get a thousand people to become part of the draw, by contributing € 4 a week to the development fund. That works out at € 17.33 a week and € 208 over the year.
“For that we will have a draw every month giving away € 3,700 in cash prizes. There will be 20 prizes from the top prize of € 1,000, two € 500 prizes, two € 250 prizes all the way down to eight € 50 prizes,” added Mr O’Brien.
The launch of the community centre initiative comes as planning permission for a Care Centre in Killaloe has been lodged with Clare County Council.
The facility in Shantraud, Killaloe, will include shops, offices, staff and parking facilities.
“The parish badly needs a facility like a community centre,” continued Tony O’Brien.
“There is no facility for community groups, for the youth and the elderly. The plan is to develop under the umbrella of the GAA, but it will be a community facility that will be open for everyone.
“The idea of the draw is that the community are investing in a facility for themselves. If we managed to get a thousand members, we would raise over nearly € 500,000 for the project over three years,” he added.