75 years of serving the community

This is the 75th anniversary of the opening of St Patrick’s Hall on Easter 1950, so it is fitting that this year saw essential works completed to ensure it continues to serve as the heart of Shercock’s community.

“It is very much the hub of the community. Everything comes through the hall,” says Peadar Mohan, secretary of the hall committee.

A host of community groups avail of the hall, and the group that makes the best use of its ample space is St Patrick’s National School located next door.

“They use it regularly for plays, PE and all sorts of activities,” says Peadar, a former school principal. “It is also used for weekly bingo, senior citizens’ social mornings, the drama festival, which has been running since 1986, Irish dancing, pilates, yoga, mother and toddler group, meetings – it’s very widely used.

“There would be something going on in it all of the time.”

Leased from Kilmore Diocese by Shercock Killann Rural Development (SKRD) the community group applied for grants to carry out major works, namely having the roof re-felted and re-slated.

“The beams were okay but the slates had asbestos, so it was a specialised job. Also the exterior was repainted,” explains Peadar as we sit in a cosy room known as the Annex, while through the windows into the main hall a dozen or so children can be seen practising Irish dancing. The Annex had presses and panelling installed and it was painted.

“It’s a fine room because it’s big enough for any kind of meeting,” Peadar observes.

The total work came in at approximately €130,000.

“We had to bridge the gap between the grants we received and the overall cost. We are running a €2,000 draw with €10 tickets on December 21 to bridge the gap between what we got in grants and the overall costs. We’re grateful for grants received from Cavan County Council,” said Peadar.

Peadar was eager to praise the work of the local rural development group - with Elizabeth McEvoy as chairperson – in pursuing capital projects for the area. In addition to the hall upgrade, SKRD have this year also had a new wheelchair accessible jetty installed at Lough Sillan’s shore. This further compliments other projects they have secured for the village, the upgraded walkway along the lake and fine playground.

Sport is a major component of life and Shercock boasts an impressive athletics facilities. Thanks to the endeavours of Shercock Athletics Club, the Craig Lynch High Performance Centre is very well utilised.

In addition to O’Hagen Park and Killann pitch, Peadar notes, “They are searching for 6-10 acres within a four mile radius of Shercock to develop a further pitch.”

“The teams in all the grades are doing very, very well, and in several case are competing in the highest grade in the county, and the senior team has earned its place in Division 1 in 2026.”

While most Lottos solely benefit GAA clubs, Shercock’s version helps to provide funds for the Shercock Killann Rural Development, the athletics group and Shercock GAA club.

“Essentially it is a community lotto, with a steering group who meet every Thursday night and hold the lotto. They run it very very well.”