Portarlington Community Centre is a voluntary and community based project in Laois. Originally ran by the Parish, it is now independent with the assistance of the Community Development Association. Providing services and supports to all in Portarlington, activities at the centre included soccer, badminton, basketball, volleyball, fitness classes, children’s dance & drama classes, active retirement groups, training for Community Games and Special Olympics Group, public and community meetings, After school club, Courses, Music Classes and much more.
With their current space no longer supporting the needs of the community, Portarlington accepted that a new space might be exactly what they required to maximize their programs. They were looking to occupy a 3,000 sq. foot two story building at the rear of the community centre and refurbish the existing community centre entrance and install a lift/elevator.
The group secured loan finance, along with raising their own funds and securing grants. After a lot of hard work, the new community centre became a reality, and has now been open for a number of years now.
The Community now has a fully accessible facility including a purposely-built youth centre, a space for the Garda Youth diversion programme and provide a meeting place with kitchen facilities for the elderly.
Deirdre Ryan of Portarlington Community Centre said, “Clann Credo provided invaluable financial help to us through an affordable term loan, without which our project could not have been completed."
Location: Portarlington Community Centre, Link Road, Portarlington, Co. Laois
Website:
https://portarlingtoncommunitycentre.com/