SOUTHERN STAR. 24. 07. 1965.
New Parish Centre for Dungourney.
BY the end of next month, the East Cork village of Dungourney will have a new Community Centre, which will provide facilities for dramatic productions, games, indoor sports as well as being a meeting place for close on a dozen clubs and organisations in the village and area, which is situated six miles from Midleton. The new centre will be situated on the site of the popular Dungourney dancing rendezvous for decades, Rigney’s Hall. However, though this hall will provide the basis for the new centre, it will be renovated and extended and will also include a kitchenette. A collection has been made and almost the entire cost of the ambitious project been raised.
The new centre will be called after St. Peter. In 1884 there was a community centre in the Village known as St. Peter’s Parish Library and it carried a large collection of books.
Under the guidance of the then local teacher Mr. George Cashel and Mr. Richard Daly, who was a member of Cork County Council and one-time Chairman of the Board of Health, it was an invaluable contribution to the educational and social needs of the district. During the Troubled Time, the roof was removed from the building and never replaced which was the end of the library,
The void this created has never been filled and when Rigney’s Hall went out of existence the need for a community centre in the village was felt even more. Clubs and organisations had no proper meeting place nor were there any social attractions for the people. After much talk, a general meeting was called of residents in the area and the decision to purchase the now “For Sale Rigney’s Hall” was made.
It was decided at that meeting, that when the building was properly acquired and paid for, it will be handed over to the Parish Priest and become parochial property.
Now each night in their turn, the men of the community. carpenters, labourers and farmers’ sons come to the hall to work on the renovation of it. All the work is done voluntarily.
Rev. Fr. C. O’Donovan, C.C., heads the committee for the renovation of the hall and has a tremendous interest in seeing it properly completed. Also, on the committee are: Vice-Chairman; Jack Griffin; Secretary, James Colbert; Asst. Secretary Lily Hegarty; Treasurer, Sean Hennessy; Dan Walsh, Tim Mulcahy, George Robinson, Patrick Sheehan. Patrick Hennessy, Michael Rohan, Mrs Ronayne, Senator Liam Ahern.