Bridge to the future as Droichead FRC officially opens its new Callan home

There was great fanfare in Callan on Monday afternoon at the official opening of the Droichead Family Resource Centre at its new home.

The FRC is now located at the site of the old CBS Primary School on West Street. Many of those who attended Monday's event were past pupils.

The former Governor of Mountjoy Prison John Lonergan was the guest of honour at the ceremony. Manager of the Droichead FRC Olive Maher said everyone was delighted with the new building.

“We are now the proud occupiers of a wonderful, bright welcoming new premises that is perfect for the activities of a family resource centre,” she said.

Chairman Billy Gardiner thanked the statutory bodies – Tusla, Kilkenny County Council, and Framework – and the staff of the centre for their work.

“On behalf of the Board of the Droichead Family Resource Centre, I really am privileged and delighted to thank everyone who has helped us to get our new premises up and running,” he said.

He said the move had been nothing but positive. He gave special thanks to Br Damien Brennan, who he said had been instrumental in steering things through the correct channels.

“Without Br Damien, we might be still looking for a premises,” he said.

“I'd like to record our thanks to him and to the Christian Brothers, because this is an ideal premises for a family resource centre.”

The centre is there for the benefit of the community e in Callan and the surrounding area.