£1 million community hall for Glenariffe

A new £1million community centre is to be built at Glenariffe, Co Antrim.
Local Councillors Margaret-Anne McKillop, Padraig McShane, Randall McDonnell and Donal Cunningham stand behind Friends of Glenariffes proposed Recreation and Community Centre.Local Councillors Margaret-Anne McKillop, Padraig McShane, Randall McDonnell and Donal Cunningham stand behind Friends of Glenariffes proposed Recreation and Community Centre.
Local Councillors Margaret-Anne McKillop, Padraig McShane, Randall McDonnell and Donal Cunningham stand behind Friends of Glenariffes proposed Recreation and Community Centre.

Environment Minister Mark H Durkan has announced planning approval for the hall which will cater for both the social and sporting needs of the community, in addition to providing facilities for Friends of Glenariffe and Oisin GAC.

The facilities will include an indoor sports hall with viewing area at first floor level , changing facilities, gym/fitness suite, multipurpose use room and kitchen.

Mr. Durkan said: “This is a real boost for Glenariffe as it will encourage the regeneration of this rural village. The development will make a significant contribution to the community infrastructure in the Glens of Antrim as it will help meet the needs of the community in a new, state of the art, purpose built facility.

“Decisions like this support my vision for a better environment and a stronger economy.”

The community centre will provide a much needed community facility following the unexpected closure of Bay Hall in the area. A 2012 survey found Bay Hall to be so structurally defective as to warrant its immediate closure. The community has been without a social facility since then. The proposal will also see a major upgrade of sporting facilities for Oisin GAC, through provision of the indoor sports hall.

Related topics: