A bid for the first community centre in a Kerry town has been abandoned following council assessments.
Kerry County Council (KCC) said they would not proceed with the acquisition of Conroy Hall despite protest from local councillors.
The SIPTU building on Park Road was once a centre for local Labour politicians and unions, as well as hosting bingo nights, but was closed in 2019 following issues with fire and safety regulations.
KCC previously proposed to purchase the vacant site off SIPTU for the benefit of the community.
At a recent Killarney Municipal District (MD) meeting, Labour councillor Marie Moloney asked for an update on the project, highlighting the potential for local organisations.
“I identified the hall as a very suitable site for a community centre,” she said.
She said ‘loads’ of community groups would use it, as well as the nearby estates that would ‘love’ collective space.
She begged KCC to make one final effort to acquire the site.
Councillor Muara Healy-Rae pointed out that KCC had been ‘very slow’ to progress the project despite the need in the town.
“It’s really a huge opportunity,” she said.
The council advised that a comprehensive technical assessment of the building was undertaken and that the MD didn’t have the funding for such a project.
The project had then been sent over to the housing department who also found it unsuitable for residential use.
Council executive James Nolan highlighted that the department had to look at ‘value for money’, considering all the costs to upgrade and maintain the building as a community centre.
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