Glenasmole campaign for new community centre after 50 years

The community of Glenasmole Valley in south county Dublin is fundraising for the development of a new community centre, as it is the “focal point” of the area.

Located near the Bohernabreena Reservoir, the Glenasmole Community Centre first opened in 1971 and “desperately needs new life,” says the organisers.

“The Glenasmole Valley is a unique and beautiful landscape set within the Dublin mountains and home to our community which has a rich history stretching back many centuries,” they said.

The centre is currently the home to several groups and clubs such as the Active Agers, parent and toddlers’ groups and the Glenasmole Drama Society and various events throughout the year such as a harvest celebration and céili.

“It’s the place at which our whole community can come together, where new arrivals can meet their neighbours and where our diaspora know they can always come back to to catch up with old friends,” says local resident Bridin Carey.

“The bold new design will ensure the sustainability of the community in years to come and provide a vibrant multi-generational space which will be the beating heart of this community.

“Combining sports facilities, multi-use spaces for groups of all ages, workstations for use in conjunction with the newly installed broadband hub, a vital lifeline for the valley, and an important point of connection to the Dublin and Wicklow Mountains national park on the doorstep.”

Carey says that the fundraising is necessary, so the community does not fall into debt pursuing the development.

“The project is part funded by LEADER and South Dublin County Council but we badly need your help to raise the funds to complete it and to ensure that our small community is not forced to draw down a loan which will saddle our community with a hefty debt.

Plans for the new centre were originally drafted in 2018 after some refurbishment works to the existing facility took place.

“It’s amazing how the project, which started in 2018 by upgrading the existing centre, has changed into a whole community facility that we can all spend days with our friends enjoying the peaceful natural environment of the Glenasmole Community Campus,” says the organisers.

At the time of writing just over €4,000 of the €5,000 target has been raised by Glenasmole residents and can be found on GoFundMe.ie, called Help Build a Future for our Glenasmole Community.