The Westmeath town of Multyfarnham was hard hit by the closure of its well-known Agricultural College, which had been run by the Franciscan Order.
When the college closed, the community found it no longer had access to a whole range of services and facilities on which it had come to rely. Community meeting rooms, sports pitches and a handball alley were no longer available to the residents of Multyfarnham when the former college premises were taken over by a private concern.
Undeterred, the community set about developing its own amenities. Beginning in 2005 a coalition of local groups set about the task of creating a wide range of tailor-made sporting and community facilities.
And, over the years, in a methodical, planned fashion the community coalition has delivered on its goals. Dressing rooms were built, drainage installed on pitches, fences and lighting erected and landscaping carried out. In fact, their work proved so successful that the town dramatically improved its score in the National Tidy Towns competition.
The final phase of this grand plan was the construction of an entirely new Community Centre and Sports Hall. The intention is not only to restore all that was lost when the Agricultural College closed, but to add much more.
It was this element of the plan that was supported by Clann Credo, as the benefit to both local economy and society was evident.
The centre includes meeting rooms, a handball alley, indoor sports and drama facilities, a fully-equipped kitchen and space for a crèche.
The involvement of a wide range of local groups in the development of this initiative meant there was input from across the whole community - and the centre was designed with their needs in mind.
It looks certain to be at the heart of community life for many years to come.
Location: Multyfarnham, Co. Westmeath
"It looks certain to be at the heart of community life for many years to come."