Diocesan News
President Opens Newly Refurbished Carry Centre – Generosity of Spirit and Resource of Killiney Parishioners Praised
L–R: The Archbishop of Dublin, the Most Revd Dr Michael Jackson, Mrs Sabina Higgins, President Michael D Higgins and Rector of Holy Trinity Parish, Killiney, the Revd Niall Sloane, at the official opening of the Carry Centre.
The newly refurbished Carry Centre, the parish centre of Holy Trinity, Killiney, Dublin, will provide a wonderful service to the whole community, President Michael D Higgins said at its official opening on Sunday 25 January. The President praised the parish for its invitation to a wide range of groups to use the centre and paid tribute to the generosity of spirit and resource shown by parishioners in taking on the project.
The refurbished Carry Centre was blessed by the Archbishop of Dublin, The Most Revd Dr Michael Jackson. He gave thanks for all who had worked on the project and asked blessings on all the people who would use the centre for many years to come.
In his speech, the President said he was struck by the explicit invitation to all who may come to use the Carry Centre. He said that as President had had the pleasure of visiting places all over the country to see the efforts being made by people of different backgrounds to take hold of public space. He added that this taking hold of public space as a result of groups working together could be incredibly empowering.
Speaking of the importance of community the President said, in the current circumstances, it was necessary to value everything done in the public space particularly as ‘we are coming out of a period of extreme individualism’. He spoke of intergenerational interaction and said that Ireland was lucky in that young people want a country in which older people could live with dignity and older people want young people to have opportunity. He said intergenerational solidarity was very important and that was recognised by the range of activities for young and old which could happen in the Carry Centre.
“All this is part of living and it is profoundly human… This centre will perform a wonderful service and I want to pay tribute to the generosity of the community in terms of the resource they have provided and I am delighted that so many of you are here, including so many people who hare involved in public life,” President Higgins stated.
In welcoming the guests, Rector of Holy Trinity, Killiney, the Revd Niall Sloane, said the Carry Centre had been a focal point for the parish and community since 1958 when it was opened by the then Rector, Canon Austen Carry. Wearing the frock coat worn by Canon Carry back in 1958, Mr Sloane said: “This project was not without its difficulties and literally blood, sweat and tears went into its development,” he stated adding that, contrary to popular opinion, Killiney was not a rich parish but they were rich in good will. He thanked all who were involved in the refurbishment project hoped that the fruits of their labour would be a catalyst for community activity for many years to come.
Over the past six months, the parish has undertaken works to upgrade the Carry Centre to enable the wider community to benefit from the hall. The upgrading works have brought the hall in line with current regulations. The project received some small grants from private charities but the majority of funding has come from within the parish through gifts and loans.
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