Minister turns sod on rural Cork community centre

Dara Calleary, the rural and community development and the gaeltacht minister, turned the sod on the new €2m community centre in Rylane on Saturday.

The project, which received €1.8m under the Community Centre Investment Fund (CCIF), will be a new community space that will include a multi-purpose community hall, meeting rooms, a community dining area, and a range of services.

Mr Calleary said this project will provide “a range of locally-based social, recreational, cultural, civic and educational activities, as well as opportunities for people to volunteer, which is at the heart of community life”.

“I want to commend the community here in Rylane, who, with support from IRD Duhallow, will now realise their ambition to see this project become a reality,” said Mr Calleary.

“This development will support the community in becoming more sustainable and resilient and will provide much-needed space for the people of Rylane and, indeed, further afield.

“I also want to acknowledge my colleague in the department, minister of state Jerry Buttimer, who I know worked very closely with IRD Duhallow on this and other projects.

“I very much look forward to returning in the not-too-distant future to see the centre completed.

“It will no doubt be transformative for the wider community for generations to come.”

The CCIF provides investment for improvement and refurbishment of community centres, as well as the development of new centres, where such a need is identified.

Since 2022, more than €110m has been provided for the enhancement and refurbishment of existing centres and for the construction of new facilities.

Since the fund was established in 2022, more than €10.7m has been allocated to almost 190 projects in Cork.