Youth and Community Centre – Fifteen Years On

If one looks back over the last 25 years and takes in all the developments that have taken place in the Parish of Knocklyon one can only be astounded. At that stage there was no Church, shopping centre, community centre or Community School.
Does anyone remember the myriad of little country roads throughout the area? How quickly one forgets the layout of the area and how all the new changes just seem to appear and are then taken for granted.

Back in the early 1980’s a group of local parishioners came together to investigate the possibility of building a centre for the youth of the parish. They met in one another’s houses planning the strategy of how to first of all to raise the necessary finance and then the type of facility that would serve the community best. They worked eagerly and started a door-to-door collection in the area, which at the time was a great deal smaller. Things seemed to quieten for a year or two but eventually through sheer hard work and determination the first sod was turned. The Archdiocese of Dublin donated the site for the centre. This was obtained through the hard work of our local Carmelite priests. We are still indebted to them for their continued support to the work of the centre.
The new Knocklyon Youth and Community Centre was opened in 1989 and since that time it has been a hive of activity for various groups in the Parish and outside. Some people think it is “all badminton”. How wrong could they be?

Just take a look at the busy schedule where people of all ages in the Parish use these facilities. A few examples are Knocklyon United, the I.C.A., Adult Education (KAIES), Karate, and thankfully the youth club has recommenced again. These are only a few of the activities, but the centre is widely used by the local residents’ groups and by the Community Council. The Blood Bank also visits the centre and will revisit in May.

Prior to that the Cat Fanciers Club are due to hold a day in the centre in April. The centre is also used by the local schools for various sports activities and used by the Parish for Holy Communion and Confirmation receptions.

Families of the Parish also use the facilities for birthday parties. So as you can see this is one of the best-utilised facilities in Knocklyon and we should all be indebted to the people who over twenty years ago started out with the idea and carried it through to fruition. Our gratitude is also due to the people on the CES scheme who have looked after the centre so well over the years.
If you would like to either get involved in the management of the centre and oversee its future development or to avail of the facilities at any time contact the secretary Phyllis Russell on 086-8047242.

– The Board of Management,
Knocklyon Youth and Community Centre