Refurbishment

On Tuesday, March 23rd, 2010, Askamore Community Centre Refurbishment Committee was formed.
The aim of this group was to undertake major refurbishment of the second, little-used squash court.
The Committee, drawn from representatives of all the organisations in the Askamore half-parish area, is as follows:
Chairman: Jim Gilbert
Asst-Chairman: Paddy Byrne
Secretary: Margaret Nolan
Treasurers: Mary Donohoe, John Donohoe
Ex Officio: Mari Gregan, Tommy Kehoe, Andy Kehoe, Andy Keane and Tom Buttle
A 4-man building committee was also set up on the night, comprising Paddy Byrne, Andy Kehoe, Andy Keane and Tom Buttle.
A grant of €73,000 from Wexford Local Development (WLD) while extremely generous, left us with a shortfall of approximately €50,000.

The plans were drawn up to give a large activity / function room with a wheelchair accessible toilet and shower, and on the upper floor, a changing room with showers, large meeting room, office and store room.
Following a tendering process, the contract was awarded to Kilpark Developments and work commenced on July 12th, 2010.
By the end of October 2010, a beautiful refurbished building rose from the ashes of the old squash court, and was officially opened to the public in Friday, November 19th, 2010 by Mrs. Justice Catherine McGuinness, (sister of Stephen Ellis, Ballyconran), followed by an ecumenical blessing.
Representatives from WLD, Michael Kinsella, Chairman of Wexford County Council, local clergy, sponsors, builders architects and a large group of locals attended on the night.
The outstanding amount of €50,000 has meant that the Refurbishment Committee had to undertake some serious fundraising locally.
A suggestion was to approach all families (approx 200) locally and ask them to commit to €240 over 2 years. The response has been huge, with almost 180 commitments being made.

Fundraising letter April 2010
There are plans afoot to extend our fundraising beyond the local area next year, and hopefully pay off the outstanding debt.
As soon as the rooms were available, a further new committee was set up to organise and use the new facility to its full potential – Askamore Community Education – ACE.