‘A day like this is a long time coming’

A project almost 30 years in the making reached a major milestone last week with the official opening of the new Ballinode Community Centre, an €835,000 development hailed as a testament to local determination, partnership and community spirit.

“A community centre like this is not defined by its walls, but by the people who fill it with life, laughter and purpose … Today is not the end of the journey. It is just the beginning.”

Those were the words of Elaine Coyle, chairperson of Ballinode Community Projects who spoke at the event. She described the day as “not just a ribbon cutting ceremony, but a celebration of community spirit”, emphasising that the centre represents years of work by people who believed in the need for a shared space. She acknowledged that the project was rooted in “countless conversations, ideas and planning meetings”, and reinforced the idea that its success belonged to everyone involved.

Former Chairperson of Ballinode Community Projects, Maria Maguire, told the origin story. She gave huge credit to Brendan McAree, Managing Director of McAree Engineering, who approached the committee in the early 2000s with a proposal to swap the existing community centre, at the entrance of his business, for a new purpose-built one on the old creamery site.

“The committee had the vision to see that this was a win-win for everyone,” she said. That agreement laid the groundwork for the project. Despite financial challenges, including rising construction costs, she praised McAree Engineering’s commitment to the development.

From the business perspective, Claire McAree, Brendan’s daughter, who is also in charge of the company’s finances, offered a candid account of the realities behind delivering the project.

“To say it was a challenging project would be an understatement,” she began. Although the company purchased the old creamery site in village with the intention of building the new community centre there, Ms McAree said that the firm simply couldn’t do it alone.

Ballinode Community Projects applied for a grant through the local authority and Heather Humphreys, then Minister for Community and Rural Development, delivered half-a-million euro under the Town & Village scheme 2022. McAree Engineering funded the balance to the tune of €335,020.

“For a period of eight years, the business and community shared the same space in harmony,” Claire commented. She described how their meetings coincided with the Nit & Natter group meet-up and how their laughter brightened her days. She also humorously revealed hat she didn’t have the heart to say 'no' to Madge from the community centre when a teapot needed welding! Noting that her father remained passionate about the project, she was glad that they saw it through.

The technical and design perspective came from Aidan Sherlock, who runs an architectural, building surveying and engineering practice locally. He described a two‑decade process of planning, revising and refining the vision: “A day like this is a long time coming… and I mean a long time coming!”

He said that he recently found a 15-year-old sketch he had done of the community centre on greaseproof paper! He emphasised that the centre was designed with inclusivity in mind: “This building was designed for everyone… nobody is left at the threshold here.”

Mr Sherlock also highlighted future-proofing measures, ensuring the building could serve generations to come.

He further praised the McAree family for using only high-spec materials in the build. Remarking on the transformation of the creamery site, he concluded: “The cream has once again risen to the top.”

Cathaoirleach of Monaghan Municipal District Seamus Treanor (Ind) praised the effort of volunteers, stating plainly: “Community projects like this simply do not happen without local people. It’s not just a building; it’s an investment in the people and the future of Ballinode.”

MC for the official opening event was Ballinode Community Projects treasurer, David McAree.

Minister Dara Calleary closed the formalities by placing the project in a wider national context. While acknowledging State support, he made it clear that the real credit lay locally: “You cannot put a value on a community. Persistence and patience are why we’re here tonight.”

Noting the presence of his predecessor Heather Humphreys, Minister Calleary said that the community centre coming to fruition was a celebration of powerful women.

The opening of Ballinode Community Centre is the result of a long-term collective effort. Its success reflects the strength of a community willing to sustain a vision over decades and the impact of a local company prepared to invest in the place it calls home.