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Source: Contact Magazine 1981
Athenry Community Council has become the most dynamic organisation within the parish acquiring its own community hall, land and generally being involved in many aspects of parish life. We take this opportunity to talk to Richard .Mulkerns, Chairman of the Community Councils
Editor: As Chairman of the Community Council, explain what its functions are?
Richard: The basic function of the Council is local involvement in as many areas as possible, e.g. recreational and cultural projects.
Editor: Where did the idea of a community council come from?
Richard: The idea came from a study group set up about six years ago. The group was set up to look into ideas for community development. The: group felt that there was no co-ordinating body within the parish so the idea of a community council came from discussions with Muintir Na Tire who had set up many such councils around the country.
Editor: How many members have you. and how are they selected?
Richard: We have twenty eight members and each member is elected. We use Station areas for election purposes outside the town and within the town use streets. Some areas having more than one representative.
Editor: When and. how did you become Chairman?
Richard: I became chairman at the beginning, of the year and I was elected by the twenty-eight council members; T. J. Brady becoming Vi c e – Chairman.
Editor: In the elections what type of person are you looking for?
Richard: Yes, we are lucky so far in that people on the council are very dedicated .and hard-working. On top of this then we have co-option of people we think can help in a particular area, -e.g. 0liver Torpey and P. J. Flarmery have been co-opted onto the council.
Editor: What has the Community Council achieved so far?
Richard: We have acquired Murphy’.s hall for approximately £14,500; we have six acres of land at the back of Ruanes, which we bought for £35,000, both of which have now been paid for..
Editor: Where. did you get the money or how did you clear the debt?
Richard: We had .many fund raising projects. We had probably one of the very first poker classics, which was very successful. We keep cattle on the land each year; at the moment we have eight cattle, which we will be selling soon. One year we had a potato harvest. We have bingo every Wednesday night and, of course, our 600 Club.
Editor: What would you like to see the community council achieve during your Chairmanship?
Richard: I would like to see us broadening our scope. I would like to see us becoming more involved in the parish, working with other clubs, helping to promote industry and possibly helping Junior Chamber in their efforts to promote tourism.
Editor: You recently applied for Planning Permission for a community complex. What is the envisaged cost, of this complex?
Richard: Approximately £130,000′
Editor: What will it consist of?
Richard: The complex will contain a gymnasium, squash courts, indoor ball alley, if there is a demand for one, changing rooms, kitchen and meeting rooms. We would hope that each club would look after their own area. For example, the Badminton Club would run the badminton in the new complex.
Editor: Will there be duplication then of existing facilities?
Richard: Yes, there would be duplication but at the moment there is a demand for a Community Centre. When the Community Council was set up its main objective was to provide a community centre. In March 1980 each member carried out a survey in their own area and 95% people surveyed said yes to a community centre.
Editor: There may now be a feeling that a future development of this kind may not be necessary, and, as you agree, there would be duplication of existing facilities. Is it possible that the community Council ‘may change their plans and maybe re-survey the people to check if the development should go ahead?
Richard: Our minds are not closed to new ideas. Indeed a new survey is probably necessary and, if there is a change of feeling, yes, we would shelve our plans. A Public Meeting may be held to find out what people are thinking.
Editor: If the overall aim of the Community Council is to develop the community, would this development not be best achieved by your organisation co-ordinating the development rather than embarking on projects of your own.
Richard: We are in existence some five years so it is difficult for us at once to become a parent body. I would like to see clubs coming to us for assistance and re-organising us. We would also like people in areas to come to us with problems, e.g. sewerage, water, dangerous bends and we hope that we could help in some way.
Editor: When you bought Paddy Hession’s field for £35,000, would that money have been better spent if you had helped to developed Raheen grounds?
Richard: At the time the owner of the property gave us first option on the land and the offer was too good to be ignored at the time, even if only as an investment for the future.
Editor: I believe there were talks lately between the Community Council and the Parish Grounds Committee, can you tell me about these talks?
Richard: As you know, Raheen needs to be developed, so the Raheen Committee were looking for some organisation to help them out and hence we had a meeting. The Parish Ground Committee is to meet. among themselves and report back to us in September
Editor: Is it likely that we will see the Community Council involved in the future development of Raheen?
Richard: We would be delighted to get involved and as far as our participation is concerned, there is no problem on our behalf.
Editor: Finally you can safely say that you have the most democratic body in existence in the parish. When-is your next election?
Richard: The next election will be in two and a half years time but we a by-election in Northgate Street at. the end of August. We are a very democratic society and one in which women in the parish have become very involved and have contributed their fair share to the overall work of the Council.
