Call for community centre in county town

The pressing need for a dedicated community centre in Cavan Town has been thrust into the spotlight following the displacement of the local Women’s Shed from their prior meeting venue.

Until recently, the group met at the Cavan Gaels’ Terry Coyle Park GAA clubrooms. However, the HSE is now said to be taking over the lease, leaving the Women’s Shed without a regular meeting space.

This development has led to calls for a proper, purpose-built multi-use space in the county town- one that is neutral, inclusive, and capable of serving the needs of a growing and increasingly diverse population. It has also reignited the issue of political representation in the county town since the former town council was abolished more than a decade ago.

The Cavan Town Women’s Shed, which boasts a membership of almost 200 women and weekly attendance of more than 60, has been a shining example of how a community group can contribute to social well-being in an area.

From talks and workshops to exercise classes and creative projects, the group has excelled since its foundation in creating a welcoming space for women of all ages and backgrounds.

In a passionate Letter to the Editor (see page 35), the committee of the Women’s Shed expressed deep frustration at the lack of suitable public space, calling it both “surprising and disappointing” - even going so far as to brand the situation a “disgrace”.

While smaller towns across Cavan have established community halls, the group says “Cavan Town has none”.

As the Women’s Shed points out, Cavan has “changed dramatically” over the past 20 years in terms of its demographic make-up, and this can present “challenges”.

“Yet, without neutral public spaces, the town is ill-equipped to respond.”

It continues: “We are fortunate to have many excellent sports clubs in the town—GAA, soccer, rugby, boxing, martial arts, athletics and more. The GAA in particular deserves real credit for the role it continues to play in community life. But it’s important to recognise that not everyone engages in sport, and sport alone cannot meet the full range of social and cultural needs within the town. We need a shared, neutral space for community groups, educational talks, exercise classes, wellness initiatives, creative projects and more.”

Members lament the loss of other community spaces like St Augustine’s Hall on Farnham Street, which is set to leased and occupied by Cavan-Monaghan ETB.

“This is part of a broader issue,” states the Cavan Town Women’s Shed, believing that since the abolition of Cavan Town Council there has been a “gradual decline in local focus, visibility, and representation”, with decisions affecting the town made at county level.

“This has impacted not just services, but the ambience, vibrancy and civic pride of the town. Cavan Town is underrepresented on Cavan County Council, with influence weighted heavily toward west Cavan and other rural areas. This imbalance has led to a lack of public investment in key infrastructure in the town—even though it is the central hub for commerce, culture and population.”

The group conclude by saying that if the aim is to focus on “integration, inclusion, and stronger community bonds, we need to create the spaces where those things can happen. Without a dedicated community centre, we are forcing groups to compete for scarce space and missing out on the incredible social value that such a centre could bring.”