A village is never too small to dream big –that appears to be the motto of the community of Killea, Co Tipperary, which, thanks to support and funding from North Tipperary LEADER, has become a hive of activity and community spirit.
The Killea Cultural Group (KCG) is comprised of representatives of the various committees in the village, from the Tidy Towns and Comhaltas to the graveyard committee and the GAA, who all work together to access funding that can benefit all aspects of the village.
For a village with a population of approximately 500, a lot has happened in the last five years after attaining funding of almost €250,000 for various community initiatives, explains KCG chair Denise Meagher.
“The catalyst was when we got a visit from North Tipperary LEADER about five years ago about how they could help develop the village. That led to the formation of the KCG. I just attended the meeting and next thing I knew I was driving home after being nominated as chair, having never done any community work in my life,” Denise laughs.
The KCG at that time was crying out for a space to call their own as all meetings and events up to that point were being held in the small GAA clubrooms, which, as many parishes will know, is a logistical nightmare for a community with an active GAA.
“Our first priority was getting the building, which we got a grant of €144,000 from LEADER for. Plus, we had to raise the matching funds. It opened in 2013 and you couldn’t explain the contrast now to have a beautiful, clean, airy space to hold classes and meetings in,” Denise explains.
Aside from being a meeting place for the community, the centre hosts yoga, Zumba, Irish dancing, music, lectures, movies, and a traditional music school.
TRAD TALENT
“One of the first projects we got funding for was a bank of musical instruments which the local children have all rented. We got 19 bodhráns, 12 starter fiddles, 10 beginner guitars, three concertinas, two accordions, four banjos and a PA system,” Denise explains.
The instrument bank led to a music school being set up on Saturdays in the centre and an annual summer féile.
“It is called Féile Margaret O’Sullivan – she owned the pub in Killea which would be known throughout the country and she had a love of traditional music. Now it’s great to get younger people involved in traditional music,” Denise says.
Irish Country Living visited Killea National School for a performance by the children and the talented youngsters were proud to share that they could play two or three different instruments.
HELPING PEOPLE
Another project undertaken in the village was the expansion of the historic St James’ graveyard.
“More space was needed but as it is a very well-known ancient graveyard, there had to be heritage approval. Also, you’d be surprised at the number of people who travel to the graveyard to track down their ancestors. So we got funding to create a digital record of all the graves, which is a great research tool for people,” Denise says.
“We also set up a website which is great to as it gives us a presence and helps us to communicate with the community.”
Denise insists that none of this would have been possible without the mentorship provided by LEADER.
“In those early days we hadn’t a clue what we were doing. If we didn’t have that person to call when we needed advice in that very difficult first year, I don’t think we could have achieved anything. It was crucial.”
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We want to feature more inspiring communities working together to achieve a goal, no matter how great or small. Send details of your local project to Village Series c/o Róisín Healy, Irish Country Living, Irish Farm Centre, Bluebell, Dublin 12, or email rhealy@farmersjournal.ie.
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