Laois town to get cash from Electric Picnic to build community hall

The Laois town that is home to Electric Picnic has secured the agreement of Festival Republic to help fund them to build their first community hall.

However securing a site for the much needed centre remains a roadblock.

Residents and clubs in Stradbally town welcome some of the biggest events in Ireland from the picnic to Stradbally Steam Rally, with the National Ploughing Championships held a stone's throw away. 

For their local events though, they only have one small hall to rent, the one in St Colman's primary school. It means that people of all ages must travel elsewhere for their sports or hobbies, and locals say it is stifling the formation of clubs.

On Thursday, July 4, the Stradbally Community Hall committee had a positive update for a large gathering at St Colman's hall.

The six person volunteer committee has been working hard for some four years on the ambitious project. They have met several times with Laois County Council planners and local landowners to try and find a site and design a centre.

The Stradbally Community Hall committee: Damien McDonald, JP Cushen, David Kinsella chairman, Yvonne Hennessy, Niall Creery and David Delaney. Photo: Leinster Express

The plan is for a hall the size of a fullsize basketball court, with a stage, a kitchen, changing and meeting rooms, carpark and an outdoor pitch, to be fit for everything in the growing town from basketball and bingo to fundraisers and funeral wakes.

Chairperson David Kinsella broke the good news about their financial situation, and the result of negotiations with Festival Republic MD Melvin Benn.

"Three years ago we had made a public agreement with the Electric Picnic Residents Committee to put aside the nett proceeds from Pink Zone ticket sales for ten years. We have €94,000 accumulated so far. It was a very historic agreement.

"Now with the 20th anniversary of Electric Picnic, seeing it grow to be the largest in the country, we felt it timely to have a conversation with Melvin. 

"We met him before Christmas. His first answer was 'no, I won't be writing a cheque'. We pointed out the level of disruption and that the festival wouldn't be the same without community support. 

"He agreed to support us but he will match any locally fundraised money, not grant aid. He will do so for 10 years, to kick in once a site is identified. Part of the agreement is they can use it during the festival for things like power and parking," Mr Kinsella explained.

He adds that the hall could cost up to €3 million to build, but some 70% would come from Government grants.

Two sites were discussed at the meeting, being the only two that arose as possibilities after talks with local landowners.

One is the green space at the centre of a new council estate under construction by Laois County Council, Carrig Glas. Another is a field next to Stradbally GAA club.

The committee's hopes for a large site at Carrig Glas were dashed by the council, who say most of the site will be for houses. They feel this will be too constrained.

"The issue is you could never expand, it's surrounded by housing, right in the middle of the estate. There will likely be young kids and there is a practicality with noise and traffic. We said we'd take a step back and look elsewhere for a site," the chair said.

Mr Kinsella then went on to say that a landowner has been approached for the second site, considered as ideal at 8 acres in size next to the GAA grounds.  However he said that an initial discussion was not successful.

He asked the public at the meeting what they wished to do, whether to go with the council's offer, approach the landowner again or keep looking around Stradbally for another site.

Representatives from the soccer, the GAA, Timahoe Ladies are on the committee and all expressed the opinion that the second site is worth trying for again.

Cllr Paschal McEvoy and Cllr Vivienne Phelan gave their input, both getting rounds of applause.

"Well done, it's been slow and tedious progress. If we all as a group go to see him (landowner) and bring an auctioneer as well, and let him know how much this is needed, lay it on the line. This site is perfect, the other is not right. The funding from Melvin will only kick in when you get a site but the picnic might not be around forever," Cllr McEvoy advised.

"I don't think there is one person who disagrees with the need. The Department of Rural Affairs gave out money for 12 projects this year, including €6m for one in Galway. Could we meet these groups? I am sure there is a lot to be learned," Cllr Phelan said.

It was agreed to form a widely representative group from the town and request to meet the landowner for "one last push" to show the need for the site.  After that the focus will "move on" to seek land elsewhere.