‘Our backs were against the wall’

Gemma Good

Killeshandra Community Playgroup closed its doors for the last time on Friday, June 25, after more than 30 years in business.

The Celt spoke with former Playgroup Leader Ann McClean who started working in the facility in September 1998.

The playgroup was initially run by the late Marie Shannon from a prefab located at the football field, before moving to its current premises at Killeshandra Resource Centre 23 years ago.

“It was a good move on behalf of the community council to run a community playschool. There was a need for childcare,” said Ann, explaining that space was limited in the prefab from which it once operated.

Upon moving to the new venue “it took off” with its small numbers swelling larger and larger.

“At one point, we had a morning and afternoon play school because there were that many. There was definitely a need for it, so it did well,” she said.

Ann said the playschool was run with the ethos that kids will not remember what they did, but will remember how they felt.

“We wanted them to have the feeling that they were safe, cared for and stimulated and I think that was done.”

The playschool was eager to get involved with the entire community. Ann recalls that the Active Age group often judged various playschool competitions. In return, “the community paid us back tenfold” and always supported fundraisers by baking, donating and attending different functions down through the years, for which she is very grateful.

Efforts were made 12 years ago to relocate the playgroup in order to provide facilities for full day care and after school, with an application submitted for public funding.

“We did put an application in, everything was ready to go,” she explained.

“They [Pobal] decided that the community had got enough so we didn’t get that facility,” contended Ann.

Pobal told theCeltthey couldn’t retrieve the records within our print deadline, and added: “Pobal is aware that this service has engaged with, and been supported by, the County Cavan Childcare committee on an ongoing basis and that a number of local factors has led to the Board of Killeshandra Community Playschool making the difficult decision to cease operations.”

Ann fully believes the community facility would still be operating had funding been granted.

“We had to just take a deep breath and carry on,” said Ann, adding that the closure had been anticipated.

“We knew that was the only way to go, it wasn't as if we didn’t realise.”

Regarding the decision to close its doors, childcare assistant and former playgroup leader Rosie Galligan said: “We did a huge campaign and put the word out in every place we could think of but unfortunately we just didn’t get enough numbers to make it viable to stay open.”

Having worked in the facility for 13 years, Rosie explained Killeshandra does not have the influx of people it once had, with one child in the playgroup staying on and one new enrolment for the coming year.

“Killeshandra is dying on its knees, there’s so many things gone out of the town and we’re another group gone out of it now.

“We didn’t have a choice in the end, our backs were against the wall,” Rosie said.

The townspeople are most upset to see the closure.

“The people living in the houses at the back, several of them have come to us and said they are heartbroken that we’re closing.”

Rosie said one woman dropped in a box of chocolates and said: “I’m going to miss you all so much and I’m going to miss the sound of the kids down in the garden.”

Rosie thanked all the fabulous staff, CE workers, directors and the community council who have worked wonderfully with Killeshandra Community Playgroup down through the years.

“It’s the best place we’ve ever worked,” Ann and Rosie attested.