There's no place like home...
Five years ago, Monsignor Martin Campion, parish priest of Danesfort, Kells, Cuffesgrange, had a dream to create a thriving community hub in the heart of his parish. Upon his death in 2007, a group of dedicated locals took up his cause and completed the impressive Father Campion Place development. Laura Keys visited the Danesfort community to meet the new residents and see what makes this place thrive.
AS the warm morning sun washes over Fr Campion Place, Danesfort, it's easy to see why the seven new residents and whole parish community feel as if this is the happiest place on earth.
After five exhausting years of fundraising, door-knocking and brick-laying, the development is finally finished and ready to be enjoyed -which is exactly what the new residents are doing.
Margaret and Seamus Grace occupy one of the two double units at Fr Campion Place and relished the move into their brand-new home in February.
"I just can't express how happy we are here," Margaret said. "It's convenient, cosy, easy to clean. We just couldn't be happier."
The Graces moved to Danesfort from a 300-year-old farmhouse where they had lived for the past 16 years.
"It was too big and draughty out there," Margaret said. "When we moved in we were thinking we wouldn't be there that long, but it got to a point where I didn't want to invite my friends over, but now I can't wait to have them here."
The new house is bright, warm and sunny, with the joyful sounds of children from the nearby national school playing in the fields just beyond the property - and it suits the Graces perfectly.
"I think they must have had me in mind when they built it," Margaret said, jokingly. "Margaret would like this and Margaret would like that. It's just perfect. And it's so warm in here, I don't even notice the cold anymore. Someone said to me after the longest day in June that winter was on the way, but I said for the first time in my life, I didn't care about winter. I'm just so happy."
The Graces have settled in well to the local community and enjoy the friendship and cameraderie between all the residents. Margaret describes the small community as like a "second family" and Seamus is a keen gardener, taking great pleasure and pride in tending to the small allotment that parish priest Fr Kieran Cantwell provided and all the residents share.
"We're growing lettuces, cabbages and flowers in there at the moment - that is, if the hares don't get them first," he laughed. "There are two small hares who appear to have taken a fancy to us and we've been chasing them all over the place."
There is great community spirit between all the neighbours and they can often be seen walking between one another's homes, sharing news, stories and gardening tips - and Margaret couldn't imagine life any other way.
"This has been my dream since I got engaged 43 years ago," she said. "All I ever wanted was a nice little house next to a church in a nice community. I already feel like I've been here forever.
"Everyone is so nice and giving and helpful. They say 'Is there anything I can do for you?' Sure, how could you improve anything here? It's like my palace."
Danny Roche returned to his home parish of Danesfort/Kells/Cuffesgrange after long absence to take up residence in one of the single houses in Fr Campion Place. Originally from Ballymuck, Cuffesgrange, he served in the army for 26 years, travelling all over Ireland and the world.
After a stint in the Congo in 1960/61, Danny returned to Ireland and trained as an army chef, shipping out again a few years later to serve in Cyprus in 1971, before finally leaving the army in 1985.
He loves being back in Danesfort, not far from to the place he grew up and sums up his feelings about his new home with a few meaningful words.
"The house suits me perfectly, 'tis a grand place," he said. "The best place in the world."
The hard work of the community and high quality of the whole Fr Campion project is illustrated by the fact that the six community houses have recently been shortlisted for an Irish Council for Social Housing Award.
Nominated along with 30 others earlier this year, the committee behind Fr Campion Place only recently learned of their shortlisting and are un-surprisingly proud.
"This is great recognition for the project even if we don't win," committee secretary, Maryanne Booth said.
This comes just a month after President Mary McAleese travelled to Danesfort to officially open the project, praising the strong community spirit in the parish.
"The CEO of Social Housing came down and shortly afterwards, we heard we'd been nominated," Mrs Booth said. "They recognised the great community, good quality finish, layout and security of the houses and the extra investment we've made to make them energy efficient, which is a major criteria for awards these days."
As the houses came under social housing, the committee opened up the application process across the county and ended up with a great mix of people who have chosen to make Fr Campion Place their home.
"None of these people knew each other before they moved in, but they get along great and help each other out," Mrs Booth said. "Having the residents here has brought great life and a sense of community to the area. Before this, there was nothing. People would come to go to church and that was it. They wouldn't come back until next Sunday. But now, not a day goes by when people aren't coming and going."
The on-site community centre and creche are another drawcard to the centre, bringing a wide variety of people of all ages into the parish and providing a useful community service.
With the sky-rocketing cost of childcare putting many families under pressure, the subvention scheme in place at the Fr Campion creche is a welcome addition.
Babies (four to 18 months), toddlers (18 months to three years) and pre-schoolers (three to five years) are catered for at the creche, which will also run an after-school service and Montessori playgroup from September.
Parents on social welfare, family income support and medical card holders are eligible for funding support for childcare at Fr Campion Place and an open day for new enrollments will be held in August.
The brand new community centre behind the church has become a real community hub since its opening earlier this year. Having already hosted the President, Mrs Booth said there wasn't much the hall couldn't handle.
"We've had funerals, courses, music sessions and everything here," she said. "And we'll be running night classes later this year. It really is a wonderfully versatile community space." The hall, which can be split into two, is also available for hire to the wider community.
The community centre will be open during arts week from August 7 to 9 and August 13 to 17 from 2pm to 7pm. There will be exhibits and sale of arts, crafts, ceramics, patchwork, photography and woodwork, by local craftspeople.Tea, coffee, refreshments and fresh bakes will be served each day.
Anyone interested in more information on Fr Campion Place or the community centre should contact Seamus Brophy 086 8825821, Marie Hutchinson 086 1908825 or Maryanne Booth (086) 1666547
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Thursday 17 May 2012
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