Press Releases28 Oct 04

New multi-purpose Parish Centre opens in Tralee

NEW MULTI-PURPOSE PARISH CENTRE OPENS IN TRALEE

Thursday 28th October 2004

Teach an Solais the new Parish Centre developed by the Church of Ireland Parish of Tralee in Co. Kerry opens on Saturday, 30 October 2004.

The new centre, which will have social as well as recreational facilities, has been developed to replace the facilities which had been previously provided at the Kerry Protestant Hall - the KPH - in the town's Ashe Street.

The Official opening will take place on Saturday at 2.30p.m. and will be performed by the Bishop of Limerick, Ardfert & Aghadoe, The Rt. Rev. Michael H.G. Mayes.

"Teach an Solais will be a modern, state-of-the-art facility which will meet the needs of modern day society in a way that a 19th century building no longer can" explained Tralee Rector, Canon Robert Warren.

The new building is just 100 yards away from the old KPH, adjacent to the 17th century St. John's Church and St. John's Parochial National School. The new Parish Centre contains three meeting rooms as well as a sports hall and ancillary service rooms. The centre also contains an office and a two-bedroomed apartment. The Centre will be an important asset for the school and parish organisations and will be available to other community-based groups on request.

The KPH was erected in 1863 by the "protestant" churches in the town which then included the Presbyterian and Methodist Churches as well as the Church of Ireland. "The KPH served the various communities in the town well for over 160 years, but had reached its sell-by date", said Canon Robert Warren. "The cost of maintenance on that building had just become prohibitive for a non-profit making organisation".

Teach an Solais has been chosen because the name of the church which stood on the site prior to the 17th century building was known as Teampall an Solais - apparently so named because of the lamp which used to be lit outside the building. Teach an Solais is an appropriate name for a modern church facility which will hopefully attract a wide diversity of people through its doors and where they can experience the warmth and light of the Christian Gospel, concluded Canon Warren.

Teach an Solais was financed through the sale last year of the KPH and a 100,000 sports capital grant from the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism in respect of providing the Sports Hall in the development. The Parish also received 5,000 from the Church of Ireland's Priorities' Fund.

Designed by Hugh Campbell of O'Sullivan Campbell Architects of Tralee, the construction was undertaken by Michael A. Ladden Construction Ltd. of Castlemaine, Co. Kerry. Interior design is by Kate Campbell-Connolly of Kate Campbell Interiors Ltd.