Historic hall in Wexford to get new lease of life with €100,000 revamp
Built over 70 years ago as a community hub by locals, it was home to many social events and official meetings of nearby groups and clubs.
However, it has been over 15 years since the building has been utilised as a prime community space, having been left vacant for the last two years
The hall was recently taken out on lease by the Enniscorthy Community Alliance in order to bring it back into community use. A group with an interest in sustainability and community development, the hope is that it will become a prime space for collaboration.
'The Hut' will offer a unique blend of services and resources, empowering members to foster energy independence, promote sustainability, and as a result, build a stronger and more resilient community for a greener future.
Billy Murphy, Chairperson of the Enniscorthy Community Alliance explained that there is a lack of community spaces currently in the town.
"The ECA wish to carry on the legacy of the hall by reimagining the space to meet the needs of a modern day community and by naming it The Hut after those dedicated people who originally saw the need for this space for the people of Enniscorthy. There is still a need today, with very little available community gathering spaces in the town,' they said.
The refurbishment of the hall is much closer after the committee was awarded €98,280 as part of the Community Recognition Funding. In total, €673,815 was shared across nine projects across the county.
"We are absolutely thrilled and incredibly grateful for this funding from the Community Recognition Fund, said Mr Murphy. "The Captain Wafer Hall has served as a cherished hub for generations of Enniscorthy residents, hosting countless events, meetings, and gatherings. This investment is a testament to its importance and will enable us to transform it into a modern, accessible, and vibrant space that can continue to serve our community for many years to come."
Speaking on the allocation, Senator Cathal Byrne said: 'This is fantastic news for Enniscorthy, I want to congratulate the committee who applied for the application. I'm looking forward to seeing the project as it develops over the coming weeks and months.'
Enniscorthy Community Alliance, is a not for profit organisation, which has been operating in Enniscorthy for many years. It is working on a number of projects and programmes to support the enhancement of the Enniscorthy area.
This volunteer led organisation runs a community employment scheme and most recently has secured funding from the Department of Justice to deliver two projects, one focused on youth engagement in the community through sustainability and biodiversity and will shortly be launching the 'Shannon Way' project which is focusing on improvements in the Templeshannon area of the town.
The group looks forward to commencing the renovation work in the coming months and will keep the community updated on progress.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
16 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Trump wants Japan to buy US cars, but that could be a hard sell
STORY: Yukimi Nitta is a rare thing in Japan - she's a fan of big American cars. The salon owner is on her second Jeep. She says she was worried the car wouldn't fit into Japanese roads and parking spots, but has got used to managing its bulk. However, cars like this remain a rare sight on Japanese roads. Switch Auto Insurance and Save Today! Affordable Auto Insurance, Customized for You Great Rates and Award-Winning Service The Insurance Savings You Expect And that has Donald Trump riled. He's complained that Japan refuses to accept U.S. cars, while selling millions to American buyers. Chevy, Cadillac and Dodge combined sold barely more than 1,000 units in Japan last year. But Trump may be wrong to think it's trade barriers blocking sales. Christoper Richter is a senior research analyst at CLSA: "The American makers, really to sell more here, you'd have to make an investment here, and given that this is one of the smaller major markets and that the prospects of them selling a lot more are probably slim, I don't see any American makers really investing any money here to lift their sales presence in Japan.' Because the market in Japan is simply very different to the U.S. Related Videos Swiss Tariff Takes Effect as President Fails to Get Deal Trump Hails New $100B Apple Investment, Threatens 100% Tariff on Chips Trump Says He Will Impose 100% Tariff on Semiconductors Apple $100B commitment, McDonald's weakness, Super Micro sinks About a third of the vehicles sold in the country are so-called 'kei cars' - economical little autos optimized for Japan's narrow urban streets. Consumers tend to see American cars as oversized gas-guzzlers that would be hard to live with. Even fans of U.S. cars concede the point. Yumihito Yasue is the president of Johnan Jeep Petit, which sells used American autos. 'In Japan, especially in Tokyo, parking lots are really small, aren't they? Some places even have mechanical parking systems where you put your car on an elevator—something unimaginable in the U.S. In those kinds of places, cars of this size simply won't fit. So, the parking situation is a major factor.' Yasue says import taxes and shipping costs certainly don't help, contributing to driving the final retail price higher. But even if those factors could be tackled, finding Japanese buyers for America's giant cars could prove a hard sell. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
16 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Hull bring in ex-Sheff Utd striker McBurnie
Hull City have signed ex-Sheffield United striker Oli McBurnie on a three-year contract. McBurnie joins Hull on a free transfer, having left Spanish club Las Palmas, where he played last season. Before going to La Liga, the 29-year-old spent five years with the Blades, in which he scored 29 goals in 159 games. The Scotland international's best season saw him score 15 as Sheffield United won promotion from the Championship in 2023. "There's something to be said for a team and a manager that really wants you," he told the club's website. "When I spoke to the manager, the first thing he said to me was, 'Can you score me 15 goals?'" McBurnie spent a season in La Liga, and despite beating both Barcelona and Atletico Madrid during the campaign, he played in a Las Palmas side who finished 19th and were relegated. But he is swapping life in Gran Canaria for another crack at the Championship as part of Sergej Jakirovic's revamped Tigers squad. "For me to come back to England, it had to be something special," he said. "I needed to come back for something that excites me and, at the same time, is right for me and my family." Hull begin their Championship season away to Coventry City on Saturday (12:30 BST). Football Transfers
Yahoo
16 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Solskjaer had 'good chats' over Republic of Ireland job
Former Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has said he had some "good chats" over the then-vacant Republic of Ireland job in 2024. The 52-year-old was linked with replacing Stephen Kenny as Republic manager last year - a role that ultimately went to Heimir Hallgrimsson. Solskjaer took over at Besiktas in January and the Turkish side are preparing to take on St Patrick's Athletic, who are managed by Kenny, in the third round of Uefa Conference League qualifying on Thursday. "I had some good conversations [with the FAI over the role]," said the former Norway international. "But, in the end, it didn't turn out that way and I'm very happy where I am now, we'll put it that way." Who is record-breaking Spurs signing Mason Melia? Besiktas, who exited the Europa League after a 6-2 aggregate defeat by Shakhtar Donetsk, are in Dublin ahead of the first leg of their qualifier. Former striker Solskjaer, who played a key role in Manchester United's treble success in 1999, was wary of the danger from St Pats' highly-rated teenage forward Mason Melia. The 17-year-old will make the step to Tottenham Hotspur in January, and Solskjaer said he was a "really exciting" prospect and one he team would have to watch out for. "I think Tottenham have made a good signing. We know we need to watch him," added Solskjaer. "You see a mature finisher. I don't want to put too much pressure on him. "I always follow the young players when I see them early in their careers. There are a few decent players I played with from Ireland so I have a fond eye for Irish players."
