The group leases Curragh Orange Hall in Maghera, Co. Londonderry/Derry. The Hall was once a focal point for ten townlands across the surrounding rural community. Traditionally a place where the local band practiced, the hall fell into disrepair with its lack of heating and very limited facilities, leading to it being largely abandoned by the local community.

George Shiels from the Development Association explains how participation in the Programme has given the hall a new lease of life and created a vital hub in the heart of the community.  

“The programme has helped us to transform the hall. The new kitchen is the engine room of the hall and has had an enormous impact on the types of activities we can cater for. Our new heating system has also made a huge difference - we’re warm at last and people can finally take their coats off when they come inside! 

“Apart from the physical change, there is a new and genuine interest in the use of the hall.

“There’s a real buzz in the community and we’ve seen renewed interest in both the Band and in the Young Farmers Club which meets here.  Perhaps more importantly, new groups have been established including a ladies group. We are also planning on starting up Scottish Country Dancing classes and also Old Time Dancing classes.  This September, we held a very successful Highland Games where we had 3000 people making use of the hall and facilities in three days.

“Since our official opening in January we plan to develop a programme of events including Health Awareness Evenings for both men and women and given our rural location and our heavy involvement in the farming industry, information evenings from the Department of Agriculture. 

“We’ll also be approaching the community and asking them how they would like to see the hall used.  We plan to re-instate a family fun day when the whole community will be invited along and all generations will come together for a day of fun and games.

“We’re lucky to have a great team of volunteers who work hard on behalf of the community. The training we’ve received has given us the confidence and the knowledge to run this as a community hall we can be proud of and a place that will host events for the whole community for many years to come.”