26.01.2015
President Opens Newly Refurbished Carry Centre – Generosity of Spirit and Resource of Killiney Parishioners Praised
The newly refurbished Carry Centre, the parish centre of Holy Trinity, Killiney, will provide a wonderful service to the whole community, President Michael D Higgins said at its official opening on Sunday January 25. 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 centre on Killiney Hill Road was full to capacity with parishioners, ecumenical guests, public representatives, the Dean of St Patrick’s Cathedral and many other well wishers.
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.
He noted that Killiney usually featured in the property pages of the newspapers rather than elsewhere but he said communities like Killiney were trying to renew themselves. Speaking of the importance of community he 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 he was pleased that Canon Carry’s daughters, Valerie and Laura had joined them in celebrating the refurbishment of the centre.
“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.
In addition to the Centre’s current usage, the new hall could be a venue for many activities including a mother and toddler group, clinics/workshops, educational activities, senior citizens clubs and socials, integration of non–Irish citizens to the community, ministry to children and young people, youth organisations and groups, local clubs and environmental and heritage awareness events and workshops.
Photo captions:
Top – Alleyn Manley, chairman of the building committee; Sandra Moore, centre manager and glebe warden; the Archbishop of Dublin, the Most Revd Dr Michael Jackson, Nigel Pierpoint, diocesan reader; Mrs Sabina Higgins, President Michael D Higgins; the Rector, the Revd Niall Sloane; Lucian Anton, builder; and architect Peter Roberts at the official opening of the refurbished Carry Centre at Holy Trinity, Killiney.
Middle – The President and his wife Sabina were presented with products made by the Sheep Thrills knitting group which meets weekly in the centre. They are pictured with the Rector of Holy Trinity, the Revd Niall Sloane and Sheep Thrills coordinator, Joan Millar.
Bottom – The President and Mrs Higgins were presented with gifts by two younger members of the parish of Holy Trinity, Killiney, at the official opening of the refurbished parish centre,
the Carry Centre.