New Sliabh Sneacht Centre set to open 2014
Tip O’Neill suite planned in stunning new building
The construction of a new Community and Heritage Centre in Drumfries is on target for completion in early Summer 2014.
The new building is now taking shape into what will be one of the most modern carbon efficient buildings in the country.
The new centre stands on the site of the old Drumfries School, built in 1838, one of the first schools to be erected in Inishowen after the abolition of the penal laws.
This state of the art facility boasts many features that will make it an attractive location in the heart of Inishowen for both community use and as a training and information centre for many other organisations.
The Centre includes a large multi-functional hall with viewing balcony and kitchen facilities. There is a second hall upstairs that can be used for various events such as delivering training, holding information events or other community activities.
According to a spokesperson for the Sliabh Sneacht Centre, “This is a very high spec building and we will have all the facilities that any group or company would require for delivering training or other conferencing activities.
“All the rooms will have Wi-Fi with High Definition projection and whiteboard facilities throughout.”
One attraction at the centre will be the heritage room on the ground floor, to be named ‘The Tip O’ Neill Suite’.
This reflects the fact that Tip O’ Neill’s’ Grandmother, Eunice Fullerton, was born in a nearby townland in 1850 and attended school in Drumfries and also acknowledges the support that the O’Neill Family have given throughout the development of the Centre.
In addition the O’Neill family has committed to attend the official opening of the new centre in September next year.
In addition the building has ladies and gents changing and shower room facilities and two fully equipped kitchens.
On the south side there is a two-storey office space with separate secure entrance.
The Centre is currently seeking expressions of interest for use of this separate facility, which will have access to the centre’s many facilities. There are also a number of parking spaces for camper vans.
The centre spokesperson added: “The Committee were aware of the potential high running costs of such a facility and have paid great attention to detail regarding insulation, air-tightness and heating.
“These factors include triple glazed windows and external doors throughout, extra wide cavity walls (150 mm) pumped with insulation beads, all inner leaves of external walls dry lined, air-tightness tape around all windows and doors, sprayfoam insulation to attic space, underfloor heating and hot water throughout supplied by air to water heat pumps and heat recovery ventilation system (HRV).
‘‘We can say with near certainty that this building is the first community/heritage centre in Ireland to have such a high energy rating, just below passive standard.
“This high specification will ensure running costs are kept to a minimum. It will reduce our CO2 emissions, give us a low carbon footprint and make the building more sustainable into the future.
“We would like to acknowledge our main funders – Inishowen development Partnership, who provided substantial funding under the Rural development Programme 2007-2013.
“The grant aid provided by IDP (75%) ensured that the scale and specification of the building was able to be undertaken, otherwise this project would never have come to fruition.’
Any groups or individuals who are looking to rent any office or hall space for 2014 to contact Gabriel Doherty on 086 7739927 or by email on info@sliabhsneachtcentre.ie.
You can also view progress on the centre and find further information on the Sliabh Sneacht Centre Facebook page or on our website www.slievesneachtcentre.ie.
