Forrest Hall’s completed transformation was unveiled last week at its open night. Members of the public were invited to view the building, which has gone from being dilapidated and run-down to a modern amenity for the community.
Mitchelstown Community Council (MCC) has a lease on the building from Cork County Council and organised extensive repair work to take place on the building over the last year.
PRO of MCC, Michael White, said the local community have shown ‘fierce interest’ and greatly supported the Forrest Hall project.
“We are delighted with the facility. We hope to have the official opening soon. The response from the community has been amazing,” he said.
Cloyne Diocesan Youth Services (CDYS) and Cork Education and Training Board (CETB) will be working out of the building. Forrest Hall also has a number of meeting rooms available to rent and will act as a base for MCC.
Vicci O’Brien from Kilworth will be working with CDYS at Forrest Hall, doing youth work, one-to-one sessions and family work. She said Forrest Hall represents ‘an exciting opportunity for CDYS’.
The youth and community worker said the donations and voluntary help the renovated building received, shows a great sense of community spirit.
“It is a fantastic facility. You really get a sense of community spirit here,” she added.
CYDS plans to set up a youth drop in service at Forrest Hall in the coming weeks. There will be a pool table and an area to sit down and have a cup of tea.
Frank Horgan will also be working with CDYS in the building as a support worker. He previously worked from a premises in the town. He will be focusing on one-to-one sessions dealing with substance abuse. He said he is excited about moving and starting to work from the building.
Forrest Hall was previously a dance hall and then a garden centre and toy shop owned by Dairygold. Cork County Council bought it in 2002, they tried and failed to lease it on a number of occasions.
MCC signed a lease on the building in December 2015 and work began on the building in January of this year, turning it into a modern community resource.
