Waterford Leader Partnership

KGK Arts Facility:

This project was part funded by Waterford Leader Partnership under the Rural Development Programme.

KGK (Knockanore, Glendine and Kilwatermoy) Community Sports Hall committee is a voluntary group established in March 2004 with the primary aim of building a community sports complex for the people of the area.  As plans progressed with the building of the sports complex it became apparent that this high class facility could be further used and enjoyed by the people of the area, should the building be structured/adapted to accommodate theatrical, musical and other events of the arts.

The community sports complex is situated in the centre of the area’s residential and school zone, allowing for maximum community participation. The only venue of theatre in Knockanore was a small, poorly constructed hall in nearby Kilwatermoy, which was now abandoned due to been condemned as a health and fire hazard. It was envisaged that the creation of a theatrical and cultural venue in the combined areas of Knockanore, Glendine and Kilwatermoy would afford both young and old with the opportunity to perform and enjoy arts in a rural area where the only meeting point was the local pub.

In 2008 four people from the community came together to form a sub-committee of KGK Community Sports Ltd. All members had an established history in the performing arts and their collective experience backed by the local community brought their planned development to fruition. The committee approached WLP in October 2008 with their proposal to install a removable stage, lighting and sound, and other fixtures and fittings deemed necessary for the successful transformation of their sports complex into a multipurpose venue.

Having succeeded in securing 60% of grant aid towards eligible expenditure the project was successfully completed in November 2009 and in perfect timing for the hosting of the national school’s nativity play.    Various events are already scheduled for 2010.  The group is now determined to establish their theatrical facility and lend itself to various theatrical, musical and other events of the arts.