This article is from page 14 of the 2006-05-02 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 14 JPG
THE residents of the Meadow this Sunday welcomed special guest Dr Willie Walsh to officially open the 16-home project developed by the Kilmihill Community Housing Association.
Built on parish lands, donated by the diocese, the project took on the name of the field in which it is built. The two-bedroom houses were designed to prevent elderly people going into residential care prematurely and keep people in their own community.
Local contractor Louis Keating finished the building work in April 2005 and the first resident moved in. That resident, Nancy Boland was on hand on Sunday to plant a commemorative crab apple tree. The Kilmurry McMahon woman was all smiles as she marked not just the Meadow’s official opening but also the approach of her first anniversary in her Kilmhil home.
Following 11am Mass on Sunday, the Bishop of Killaloe, Dr Walsh, unveiled a stone-cut plaque at the entrance of the housing complex. He then blessed each house individually and even called in for a short visit to all 16 homes. Afterwards, the residents and local community enjoyed refreshments in the on-site community centre before making a presentation to the bishop.
The last of the 16 houses in the Meadow were filled in March.
Husbands and wives, siblings and single people from Kilmihill and surrounding parishes have made the Meadow their new home in the last year. People have even returned from the USA and England to live there.
Members of this new community now look out for each other, with members of the wider community popping in from time to time.
Each house has two bedrooms, a kitchen dining area, conservatory and a bathroom.
The land for the project was provided by the parish and €55,000 was given in further assistance to fit out the Community Centre by Leader. It is in trust to the local committee and owned by the community. The residents pay a small rental income with many qualifying for supplementary allowance.
The Meadow in Kilmihill and projects like it across the country are saving the government millions of euro in nursing home fees every year. In the last number of months, some people have left nursing homes to live in the purpose-built and closeknit community.
The Department of Environment are anxious to create more places like The Meadow for elderly people to live as the elderly demographic increases.