Media Release
Wednesday, 15 April 2026
Minister Calleary reopens the newly refurbished Lourdes Parish Hall on Seán MacDermott Street, Dublin
- €770,000 provided under the Community Recognition Fund for refurbishment of Lourdes Parish Hall
The Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary TD, has today (Wednesday, 15 April 2026) officially reopened the newly refurbished Lourdes Parish Hall in Seán McDermott Street, Dublin.
In 2023, Dublin City Council was allocated €770,000 under the Government’s Community Recognition Fund to refurbish Lourdes Parish Hall.
With the upgrades now completed, the hall is used by Lourdes Day Care Centre who offer activities for the elderly, including arts and crafts, knitting, bingo, and social outings. It is also home to the Francesca Arkins Dance Academy and Dublin One Force Taekwon Do Club.
Speaking at the reopening, Minister Calleary said:
“I am delighted to see the extensive work that has been completed through the €770,000 in funding that was provided through the Community Recognition Fund towards the external and internal refurbishment of this much needed community facility, and I would like to express my thanks to everyone who has made this possible.
“The Community Recognition Fund was introduced in 2023 to recognise the huge efforts made by communities in welcoming and supporting people coming to Ireland. Communities, like those here in Seán Mac Dermott Street and the inner city, where huge efforts have been made to integrate new arrivals into our community.”
The Community Recognition Fund has provided some €100 million to support a range of projects in villages, towns and cities which have welcomed new arrivals.
Projects supported through the fund include the refurbishment of community facilities, like Lourdes Parish Hall, in addition to children’s play spaces and sensory spaces, the provision of and enhancement of recreational trails and sports facilities, and transport supports for communities across the country.
Almost 1,000 projects approved under the fund have now been completed and communities nationwide are enjoying the benefits that this funding has delivered. Significant progress is being made on the remaining projects, the majority of which will be completed this year.
Minister Calleary added:
“The refurbishment works completed here in Lourdes Parish have not only addressed the long-standing structural issues but have also significantly expanded the hall’s available space and usability.
“I very much welcome the addition of the upstairs modern kitchen and studio, alongside increased storage space. The hall can now host a wider range of activities and events which I am sure is great news for the wider community and I would encourage everyone to make full use of this fantastic facility.
“I think it is fitting that the 2023 Community Recognition Fund approvals were announced here in May 2023 and that we are here again today to officially open one of those approved projects. I want to close by wishing the committee here in Lourdes Parish Hall and indeed all the visitors to the centre all the best for the future.“
Preasráiteas: Athosclaíonn an tAire Calleary Halla Paróiste Lourdes a athchóiríodh le déanaí ar Shráid Sheáin Mhic Diarmada, Baile Átha
Preasráiteas
Dé Céadaoin, an 15 Aibreán 2026
Athosclaíonn an tAire Calleary Halla Paróiste Lourdes a athchóiríodh le déanaí ar Shráid Sheáin Mhic Diarmada, Baile Átha Cliath
- Cuireadh €770,000 ar fáil faoin gCiste Aitheantais Phobail le haghaidh athchóiriú Halla Paróiste Lourdes.
Inniu, Dé Céadaoin, an 15 Aibreán 2026, d’athoscail an tAire Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail agus Gaeltachta, Dara Calleary TD, Halla Paróiste Lourdes a athchóiríodh le déanaí ar Shráid Sheáin Mhic Diarmada, Baile Átha Cliath.
Sa bhliain 2023, leithdháileadh €770,000 ar Chomhairle Chathair Bhaile Átha Cliath faoi Chiste Aitheantais Phobail an Rialtais chun Halla Paróiste Lourdes a athchóiriú.
Le cur i gcrích na n-uasghráduithe seo, úsáideann Ionad Cúraim Lae Lourdes an halla a chuireann gníomhaíochtaí ar fáil do dhaoine níos sine, lena n-áirítear ealaíona agus ceardaíocht, cniotáil, biongó, agus imeachtaí sóisialta. Tá Acadamh Damhsa Francesca Arkins agus Club Taekwon Do One Force Bhaile Átha Cliath lonnaithe ann freisin.
Ag labhairt ag an athoscailt, dúirt an tAire Calleary:
“Tá áthas orm an obair iontach a cuireadh i gcrích tríd an €770,000 i maoiniú a cuireadh ar fáil faoin gCiste Aitheantais Phobail i dtreo athchóiriú seachtrach agus inmheánach an tsaoráid phobail seo a bhfuil géarghá léi a fheiceáil, agus gabhaim buíochas le gach duine a chuir ar chumas é seo a dhéanamh.
“Tugadh isteach an Ciste Aitheantais Phobail in 2023 chun aitheantas a thabhairt do na hiarrachtaí ollmhóra a dhéanann pobail chun fáilte a chur roimh dhaoine a thagann go hÉirinn agus iad a thacú. Pobail, cosúil leo siúd anseo i Sráid Sheáin Mhic Diarmada agus i lár na cathrach, áit a ndéantar iarrachtaí ollmhóra chun daoine nua a imeascadh inár bpobal.”
Cuireadh thart ar €100 milliún ar fáil faoin gCiste Aitheantais Phobail chun tacú le raon tionscadal i sráidbhailte, i mbailte agus i gcathracha a chuireann fáilte roimh dhaoine nua.
I measc na dtionscadal a fhaigheann tacaíocht tríd an gciste tá athchóiriú áiseanna pobail, cosúil le Halla Paróiste Lourdes, chomh maith le spásanna súgartha do leanaí agus spásanna céadfacha, soláthar agus feabhsú conairí áineasa agus áiseanna spóirt, agus tacaíochtaí iompair do phobail ar fud na tíre.
Críochnaíodh beagnach 1,000 tionscadal a ceadaíodh faoin gciste anois agus tá pobail ar fud na tíre ag baint taitnimh as na buntáistí a bhaineann leis an maoiniú seo. Tá dul chun cinn suntasach á dhéanamh ar na tionscadail atá le cur i gcrích, agus cuirfear formhór díobh i gcrích i mbliana.
Mar fhocal scoir, dúirt an tAire Calleary:
“Dhírigh na hoibreacha athchóirithe anseo i bParóiste Lourdes ar na fadhbanna struchtúracha fadbhunaithe, agus leathnaigh siad go suntasach an spás atá ar fáil agus an úsáideacht atá sa halla freisin.
“Cuirim fáilte mhór roimh an gcistin agus an stiúideo nua-aimseartha thuas staighre, chomh maith le spás stórála méadaithe. Is féidir leis an halla raon níos leithne gníomhaíochtaí agus imeachtaí a óstáil anois agus is cinnte gur dea-scéal é sin don phobal i gcoitinne agus mholfainn do gach duine úsáid iomlán a bhaint as an áis iontach seo.
“Fógraíodh faomhadh Chiste Aitheantais Phobail 2023 anseo i mBealtaine 2023 agus táimid anseo arís inniu chun ceann de na tionscadail sin a ceadaíodh a oscailt go hoifigiúil. Guím gach rath ar an gcoiste anseo i Halla Pharóiste Lourdes agus ar gach cuairteoir ar an ionad amach anseo.