Phil Hogan, T.D., Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government announced today that he has given sanction to Kilkenny LEADER Partnership to approve funding of up to €222,000 to Thomastown Community Centre Ltd towards the refurbishment of the existing community centre and concert hall in Thomastown, Co Kilkenny.

This funding is provided under the Village Renewal and Development measure of the Rural Development Programme (RDP) 2007-2013 and will provide the necessary financial support to develop refurbish the concert hall balcony and stage area as well as improve the facilities in general in the hall. The facility is already part of a larger Community Centre Complex but has gone into a bad state of repair in recent years and this funding will facilitate the renovation of the building to provide a centre that is warm, welcoming and safe for the community.

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Announcing the funding Minister Hogan said: "This funding will allow Thomastown Community Centre Ltd to reintroduce a building of architectural significance into use for community activities. Such facilities are critical to the development and maintenance of sustainable rural communities and provide not only places to participate in cultural activities but also places where people can gather and meet in comfortable and safe surroundings. I commend the communities of Thomastown and its surrounding hinterland for their determination to facilitate the refurbishment of this wonderful facility and I wish them all the best with all of the activities that will talk place here going forward."

(CD/GK)