Kilmaley Hall, a long-standing community hub in one of County Clare’s largest parishes, is set for an overdue refurbishment that could secure the future of the facility for generations to come.
Built in the early 1960s, the hall has served as a central meeting place for the people of Kilmaley, Inch and Connolly for more than four decades. It has hosted everything from school concerts and fitness classes to indoor sports, yoga sessions, public meetings and a wide range of community events.
The facility also provides an important local service through the bring bank located in the hall’s car park, which is the only such recycling facility in the parish.
However, after years of heavy use, the building is now in need of significant investment to address general wear and tear, improve accessibility and modernise the facilities available to the community.
Local residents are being invited to have their say on the future of the hall through a survey being organised by Kilmaley Meitheal Company Limited. The survey is available through local shops and community outlets, as well as online, and is seeking suggestions on how the space could be improved and what activities or services people would like to see developed.
Chair of Kilmaley Meitheal Company Limited, James O’Loughlin, said community feedback would be central to shaping the project.
“Kilmaley Hall has played a hugely important role in the life of our parish for over 40 years. This refurbishment is about ensuring that it continues to meet the needs of the community into the future. The views and ideas of local people will be vital in helping us decide how the hall can best serve the next generation.”
“The refurbishment represents an opportunity to create a more modern and flexible community space, capable of supporting existing activities while also providing facilities for new groups and initiatives in the years ahead.”
The proposed upgrade is dependent on a successful application to the Community Centres Investment Fund (CCIF), operated by the Department of Rural and Community Development. The scheme supports improvements to community facilities nationwide, including refurbishment works, accessibility upgrades and modernisation projects.
The project is also expected to benefit from support through the Mount Callan Wind Farm community fund, which provides funding to local communities and organisations connected with renewable energy developments in the area.
Kilmaley Parish, which includes Kilmaley, Inch and Connolly, is the second largest parish in County Clare and the largest parish in the Diocese of Killaloe.
The community survey can be completed online at https://tinyurl.com/kilmaleymeitheal. Submissions should be made by Wednesday, 1 July 2026.