For many, village halls are the lifeblood of small, close-knit communities, providing a huge range of sports and activities that help combat rural isolation in places with limited access to other services.
Unfortunately however, the Covid pandemic dealt a huge blow to these venues and their sustainability, meaning many never got back up off the ground when the health emergency abated.
The committee of one such hall in Co. Armagh, which serves the communities of Glenanne, Loughgilly and Mountnorris, is eager to get the public back through its doors, and is setting out to make the venue more appealing to locals.
The Glenanne, Loughgilly and Mountnorris Hall, known locally as the GLM Millennium Hall, is based on Main Street in Mountnorris, and aims to be a shared space for all members of the local community to come together.
Managed by a voluntary committee, the venue was created by people who recognised a need for a place where people from all backgrounds could meet and develop relationships across the community divide.
The funding for the building came from the National Lottery Millennium Halls Fund, alongside other grants.
Cairlinn Caroll, a committee member at the GLM Hall, says they are actively working to bring the space “back to life” following the closure and subsequent lull in activity caused by the pandemic.
She hopes that by raising awareness of this facility, more locals will support it.
“The hall went into a bit of demise and there was nobody using it after the pandemic,” Cairlinn said.
A new committee was formed this year, who have introduced activities such as: Taekwondo, badminton, art club, Pilates, disco exercise and monthly craft fairs.
“We’re going to do a Christmas craft fair on November 9 which we’re really pushing because we’re not getting footfall into the place. We want people to use more of it, it really is for the community.
“I’m new to the community and the community down here is amazing. I did Pilates and I couldn’t believe how friendly everyone was. This community needs it.”
Cairlinn hopes the venue will be seen as a shared space, unaffiliated to any one denomination or creed.
“There seems to be this connectivity between us all and we’re all working well and progressing, which we’re delighted about.
“We get the grants but we still need the community to support us.”
While recent events in the hall have been supported by a reasonable number of people, the committee wants more to be getting involved as there’s plenty of scope for growth, with a badminton court and stage area available for use.
While Cairlinn says the space is a “modern facility,” she concedes that turnout at some events can be disheartening.
“With the craft fairs, footfall is very bad. Many of the people coming in are related to the committee members and want to support it. We need the community to come in and support this place.”
