Thirty years growing and Killinarden CC is still going strong

By Mary Dennehy

KILLINARDEN residents united last Friday to celebrate the 30th birthday of their local community centre, which is a vibrant testament to the area’s first families who campaigned and fundraised to make the centre a reality for future generations.

Last Friday, a family-fun day was held in the community centre to mark and celebrate its 30th birthday, and the invaluable contribution the centre, its staff and volunteers have made to the community of Killinarden over the past three decades.

As diverse as the community it serves, the centre is home to everything from dance classes to over 55s, fishing clubs to youth projects and training courses, to a drop-in coffee dock.

The centre is also renowned for its commitment to youth work and has a purpose-built youth facility on site which caters for children and teenagers.

This summer, the progressive centre is running an eight-week summer youth project and a four-week family project, which gives parents and children the opportunity to partake in activities together.

Lily Greene has been a volunteer at the Killinarden Community Centre for 30 years, and has over the decades volunteered across a number of areas including the youth club and the coffee dock.

Lily, who is now a member of the centre’s management committee, told The Echo: “The centre has grown so much since it first opened and has really adapted to the needs of the community – and extended to cater to the growing youth.

“The centre is a really important part of the community, the members of which played the main part in getting the community centre built in the first place.

“Residents realised that the area needed a community centre and people came together with support from the local community council.

“There was some amazing volunteers who set up a committee for the development of a community centre and its fundraising and it’s thanks to all of these people that we have this centre today.”

She added: “The centre really is at the heart of the community and there are so many young people who come through the youth project that have grown into leaders in their community and volunteer with various projects and sports clubs.”

For further details on the Killinarden Community Centre visit its Facebook page or call 4526617.