History & Heritage
HISTORY OF THE RESOURCE CENTRE
The Presentation Sisters came to Carrick in 1813 at a time when there was great poverty in the town. The woolen trade which employed four thousand of the ten thousand populations had collapsed, potatoes were the stable diet for a majority of people and diseases such as typhus, scarlet fever and cholera were common.
After the Sisters vacated the convent in 1996 representatives of about 30 community and voluntary groups came together to examine ways in which some positive action could be taken to improve services and facilities. The parish purchased the convent, a community resource group was formed and the catalyst that accesselerated the project to the current magnificent structure was when the community Business Enterprise Centre came on Board.
The centre now provides a new vibrant centralised, self sustaining and multi-functional Community Resource Centre, that will provide caring and development opportunities for everyone.
In the year 2001, the centre was officially opened by the President of Ireland; Mary McAleese.
FULL STORY:
In 1997 representatives from various community groups in Carrick-on-Suir such as St. Nicholas Parish Council, Community Resource Centre Working Group and others including members of the Garda Siochana came together to examine ways in which some positive action could be taken to improve facilities for the people of Carrick-on-Suir and its environs with an emphasis on social inclusion. The Presentation Convent Community which had a long association with the town agreed to donate the convent to the Parish for a nominal fee to be used as a community facility. Following facilitated group sessions and many hours of commitment and dedication, a management committee with a diversity of backgrounds was formed to progress the project.
The catalyst that accelerated the project to the current magnificent structure was in 2003, when a delegation for the Community Business Enterprise Centre which was formed by the Chamber of Commerce, the owners of the debt free centre (old E.S.B. offices, Greystone Street) which was unable to move forward from phase one because of the withdrawal of government funding due to the downturn of the “Celtic Tiger”. The directors decided the best option was to sell the existing property and invest in the development of the Resource Centre with the view to a lease on a portion of the property and transferring their operation to the building. This would allow the group to expand their operation and allow the Resource Centre move much closer to completion. The Directors met with the Management Committee of the Community Resource Centre and a partnership arrangement was agreed to work together in an open and transparent manner.
The restoration and construction was completed in January 2005 at a cost of approximately €1 million and is now open for business and is extensively used. Great credit is due to the Building Contracting Firm George Everett & Sons for the wonderful work and commitment to the project.
The building has fifteen rooms available for use and is at the disposal of the community voluntary groups business and entrepreneurs clubs and societies.
Chairman of the Management Committee has praised its members for the voluntary contribution over the years and thanks the various funding groups including Carrick-on-Suir Chamber of Commerce, BNS Leader Group, FAS, Department of Community Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (Min Eamonn O’Cuiv paid a visit to the centre, and part funded the cost of providing the lift). Carrick-on-Suir Town Council, South Tipperary County Council, Carrick-on-Suir Lions Club and also much local support. The IT training room has fourteen places and is already attracting much business. Substantial car parking is available; the building has been names Clancy House and the Presentation Sisters are remembered by the Nano Nagle Community Resource Centre.
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