"A dream come true", is how Centre chairwoman, Jo Doyle, described the opening in June of a new Community Centre in Kilmore Quay in 1994.

The Stella Maris Centre in the heart of the village is the culmination of eight years of planning and fund-raising work by the Kilmore Quay Development Association.

The total cost of the new centre was £200,000, assisted by a £50,000 grant from W.O.R.D. (The Wexford Organisation for Rural Development). John and Sheila Sutton, who donated extra ground for the building, were guests of honour at the opening. Mr. Sutton spoke about the time in 1951 when the then curate of Kilmore Quay, Fr. Prendergast, asked him for a site to build a hall for the community. Now the old Stella Maris Hall has been replaced by this fine centre.

This is no plain block construction, but a beautiful building designed by Design Unlimited, Wexford and built by Glenville Construction.

The building was blessed by the Bishop of Ferns, Dr. Brendan Comiskey, who said it was a sign that Kilmore Quay was a true community. "This is not the end but the beginning of a whole new era of development in this area", he said.

The Stella Maris Centre will play an important role by providing facilities aimed at encouraging people to extend their visits to the area, acting as an information point for the south east and promoting the development of additional tourist facilities.

Among the general range of facilities on offer will be tourist advice, holiday bookings, photo copying, local crafts, etc. On the sports side the twenty-roomed centre incorporates a full tournament-sized badminton court with facilities for volleyball, basketball, pool, table tennis, video games, etc. It also has a restaurant/coffee shop and offices.

A stained glass window in the Centre is the work of Vera Whelan of the Wexford Stained Glass Studio. Designed by local priest, Fr. Jim Cogley, it portrays various aspects of life in Kilmore Quay with a fisherman's anchor and a ship's wheel.

The project was supervised by Fr. Cogley during the building stages. This fine Centre is the latest addition to the various other projects completed by the Development Association, i.e. tennis court, football pitch and Ballyteigue Burrow.

The Kilmore Quay Development Association who saw the project through eight years of anxious planning deserves a large measure of praise for its foresight in recognising the need j for a supportive and promotional resource for the village, its residents and tourists,

John Nunn, manager of the Centre, has a range of adult education classes for men and women. Anyone interested can ring John at the Centre on 053-29922.

Stained glass window in conference room