PICTURES: Amazing kitchen makeover in Laois village hall

A rural village hall in Laois has been given an amazing new kitchen, the icing on the cake of a full renovation carried out over the past five years.

Shanahoe Community Hall near Abbeyleix had a dark awkwardly shaped kitchen which was little used.

Now a full and carefully considered kitchen redesign has made the hall the heart of the community, creating a cosy hub for groups and social gatherings.

The new kitchen was officially opened with the old kettles put to good use along with new appliances, on Sunday, March 3.

Cutting the tape, committee members Sonia McDonnell, Aisling Walsh-Davidson, Colm McDonnell, Sarah Lou Malone and Michelle Hughes at the grand opening of the recently refurbished kitchen in Shanahoe Community Hall. Picture: Alf Harvey.

It was funded by a Government grant of €24,000 from the Department of Rural and Community Development, and overseen by a hardworking volunteer committee.

Tea's up: Niamh and Roisin Ryan helping out at the grand opening of the recently refurbished kitchen in Shanahoe Community Hall. Picture: Alf Harvey.

Committee assistant secretary Sarah-Lou Malone told the Leinster Express / Laois Live more.

"We were granted the funding last year and it really was worth all the hoops you have to go through. It covered the cost of the full renovation.

"The old shell of the kitchen and the flooring was ripped out. Before it was very simple, and the sink was in a pinch point. 

"Now it has storage, and was redesigned to change the flow. We have a new hob and two ovens. We are now able to provide hot food at different functions, like kids parties or funerals.

Emmy and Katie McDonnell at the grand opening of the recently refurbished kitchen in Shanahoe Community Hall.
Picture: Alf Harvey.

"In our community it is the only indoor place we have bar the church. Up to 2017 it hadn't been used that much. It had leaks, it was damp and draughty.

"The Leader grant in 2021 of €56,000 fixed a lot of the structure of the hall," she said.

That grant had allowed the committee to put in a new heating system, windows and doors in the main hall.

The committee has also been helped by over €5,000 in various grants through Laois County Council grants since 2019, to buy catering equipment, seating, planting, replace flooring and cover running expenses. 

"The kitchen has added an extra dimension to the hall's use. We can offer cooking classes, for kids and adults. We hope youth groups can startup. When we had our official opening we were able to make soup and sandwiches. We've really upped our game," Sarah-Lou said.

Elizabeth Ryan, Sonia McDonnell, Aisling Walsh-Davidson, Lorraine Kirk and Sarah Lou Malone at the grand opening of the recently refurbished kitchen in Shanahoe Community Hall. Picture: Alf Harvey.

It is hoped to revive traditional cards nights too, and offer a space for people of all ages to get together.

"We are going to really try and look at what we can do to draw people together again to use the hall for a social aspect. That fear that began in Covid became a habit. We work a lot with the Laois Offaly ETB and we can start skills and craft classes," she said.

Their official opening was "a fabulous day", Sarah-Lou said.

"The kids were the highlight. Some of them play with Spink Comhaltas performed and then they just got up on the stage and started dancing, we were delighted to see that," she said.

The kitchen was designed and installed by Laois company Hanlon's Kitchens, while an Offaly company installed the durable new floor.

The Shanahoe hall committee can be contacted through their Facebook page.