Fáilte go Baile an Tóchair Welcome to Ballintogher

1. Fáilte go Baile an TóchairWelcome to Ballintogher

2. Ballintogher Community Hall Originally part of the Old Creamery this Hall has made a long term contribution to the Ballintogher Community

4. Temperance Hall & Creamery • Temperance Hall – the original hall was erected in the townland of Kingsfort as a Temperance Hall circa 1900. • When the creamery closed in the 1970s NCF offered the building which was adjacent to the hall to the local community

5. In the 1970’s • In 1977 the creamery building was basically a shed with a galvanised iron roof and mass concrete walls. The Macra na Tuaithe Club raised in excess of £200, and having secured a grant from the Department of Education, the building was made weather proof and a section was converted into a meeting room.

6. Use of Hall • Ballintogher Feis was established in 1977 and the Feis Committee made use of the Hall and Creamery building for various competitions. • This meeting room was used by all local organisations from 1978 to 1983. (Macra na Tuaithe, Ballintogher ICA, GAA Club, Feis Committee, etc.).

7. Macra/Foroige raise concerns • In 1982 Ballintogher Foroige Club, (formerly Macra na Tuaithe), organised a public meeting to highlight some of the deficiencies in the Hall and Creamery buildings

9. Two fundraising raffles raised in excess of £10,000, grant funding was secured from Sligo County Council and donations were sought and secured from all organisations and from a significant number of individuals in the Ballintogher area.

10. In association with ANCO a new building was erected on the site of the creamery and so me refurbishment was carried out on the existing hall. The Hall was officially opened in October, 1984 by Dr. Hiliary.

12. Enjoying the Opening night

14. Enjoying the Opening Night

15. Committee 1984

16. Need for new Refurbishment • During the 1990s and up to 2006 the Community Hall required more and more maintenance. • Lack of funding resulted in the hall having to be closed in 1996 and all the vital community events being moved to other locations. • Following a public meeting a group was set up to tackle the issue

17. Ballintogher Community Council Ltd. Established in 2007 • Vehicle for managing and refurbishing the local community centre. • Phase 1 complete with extension. • Working in partnership with Sligo Leader Partnership to fund Phase 2. • Held open day for community consultation and awareness and get ideas from the wider community.

18. Good Times Good times are recalled by those who have used the hall in the past and the hall is now open to the public for use.

24. A lot done, More to do • We managed to raise an enormous amount of money over the last year, even in these recessionary times the community near and far has given unbelievable support to this project. • However, we still have some way to go to take us out of debt and we look forward to working with the community to achieve the shortfall

25. NEARLY THERE

27. Thanks to all our Sponsors • ACTIVE AGE RETIREMENT GROUP • AIB BANK • AIDAN O’MUIMHNEACHAIN • ARD NAHOO • ARD NAHOO SINGERS • ATLANTIC FIRE

28. Thanks to all our Sponsors • BALLINTOGHER FEIS COMMITTEE • BALLINTOGHER FESTIVAL COMMITTEE • BALLINTOGHER SET DANCERS • BERNIE CARNEY • BETINA SEITZ

29. Thanks to all our Sponsors • BLUE DEVON PUB, DROMAHAIR • BRENDAN ARMSTRONG SAWMILLS • CASTLE DARGAN • CONNOLLY MOTORS • CONNACHT GOLD • DAVID O’HARA

30. Thanks to all our Sponsors • DICKIE GABLE • DONEGAN’S - Noel and Pauline • DU-MORE EMBROIDERY • DUNNES STORES • EASY RIDERS & NICK DIMES • FLANAGAN FORD

31. Thanks to all our Sponsors • Fr VINCENT • GREEN GATE FLOWERS • HUGH MORAN • HUGH O’NEILL CLASS ACT • JOE TRESTON • KERRIGAN QUARRIES

32. Thanks to all our Sponsors • KERRY FOODS • SLIGO LEADER PARTNERSHIP COMPANY • MACE – Ollie & Anne Dorey • MARIAN HARKIN. MEP • MARTIN BAKER

33. Thanks to all our Sponsors • M.C. ROBBIE FITZPATRICK • MOLLY FULTONS • MR TAYTO • MULLANEY BROS • MULLANEY TRAVEL • MOFFITS

34. Thanks to all our Sponsors • NATIONWIDE GUTTERS • NELLIE, GERRY & BREEGE BOLES • NOEL HUNT AND HUNKY DORY • OONA DOHERTY • PAT & MARY GILMARTIN • PAUL CASEY & ANGELA BURKE

35. Thanks to all our Sponsors • PERMANENT TSB • PETER FOLEY • PROFESSIONAL DRIVER TRAINING • REID FURNITURE • SHANE & SIOBHAN LOUGHLIN • SIOBHAN HOPPER

36. Thanks to all our Sponsors • SL CONTROLS • SLIGO FARMER’S MARKET • SLIGO SATELITE SERVICES • SUE MCGOWAN AEROBICS • TAHENY DANCE TROUPE • THUNDER HAIR DESIGN • ULTAN McGOWAN

37. Thanks to all our Volunteers • Thanks to all who gave their time and effort to this wonderful project over the last four years. • A special THANK YOU to our Chairperson Joe Taafe who has spent countless VOLUNTARY hours in the hall and overseeing the project, ensuring work has been carried out to the highest standards.

38. Possible Hall uses • Sport n Youth CultureEntertainment • Badminton Feis Birthday Parties Basketball Dancing Disco • Soft Ball Music Classes Exhibitions • Youth Lectures Halloween Party • School Theatre Santa • Foroige Cookery Classes • Dancing Sewing • Yoga Local Library • Pilates • After School Club

39. Ballintogher Development Groups WORKING TOGETHER Sligo Leader Partnership FÁS – Rural Social Scheme Sligo County Council Ballintogher Community Enterprises Ltd. Ballintogher Community Council Ltd. St. Michael’s GAA Club

40. Ballintogher Development Groups • Ballintogher Feis • Ballintogher Traditional Music Festival • Fred Finn Branch Comhaltas • Set Dancing Group • Active Retirement Association • Community Games Committee • Residents’ associations

41. Ballintogher Development Groups • Foroige Club • Ballintogher Gun /Conservation Club • Parish Council • School Board

42. A Special Thank You to all those who voluntarily spent their time ensuring that this hall be reopened