The Murroe Community Council was originally set up in 1939 and it now represents approximately 2100 people. We hold a monthly meeting to discuss any arising local issues. The first Muintir na Tire hall was built in Murroe. It’s renovation over 10 years ago was funded by the Parish. It now contains the main hall with a stage, three meeting rooms and a small b ut functional kitchen. A range of activities take place each week, Irish and Set dancing, Unislim, Pilates, The Marion Club, Community Alert Meetings and a Song School to name a few.
Achievements to date:
Community Alert
This group was set up by Muintir na Tire in 1985 in conjunction with the Gardai. The Murroe branch have installed up to 80 elderly residents with pendulums and lights. They had local signage erected and updated. A defibrillator was funded by this group and the training funded by the Community Council. It is now located on the wall of the Muintir na Tire hall. The group of local volunteers who complete the training have taken charge of two mobile phones and are ‘on call’ in addition to the emergency services.
Murroe Twinning Project
This project is in existence since 1997. As the sign posts clearly state on the approach roads to the village, we are twinned with Evry-Gregy-sur Yerres. August 2010 a group came to visit and stayed for 5 days. We hope it will be possible for us to visit them in France or in another location soon.
Website
www.murroe.net was set up almost two years ago. It’s a means of getting local information out to the local and wider community.
The Community Houses
A group of eight two-bedroom bungalows were built in two phases over the past 15 years. These are to facilitate people over 60 years of age whose circumstances may have changed, e.g. to ill health, no transport, etc.
Murroe Community Playground
The playground opened its gates on Saturday January 29th 2011. It is a necessary amenity to serve our ever growing community. Through a sub-committee set up at our monthly meeting and some very hard working local volunteers they took on the mammoth task of raising funds for this project. They liaised with Limerick County Council on the suitability of the site, arranged the purchase of the land, and completed all the paper work for the Ballyhoura grant scheme while tirelessly continuing to fundraise.
Tidy Towns
A small group of local volunteers meet on a weekly basis to up-keep our village. They maintain all green areas, paint public areas, plant flowers, litter control, etc. they also had a recycling facility re-instated and it is now located on the grounds of the Muintir na Tire Hall. The Tidy Towns scores have continued to improve over the years due to their unending efforts and dedication. They have helped to encourage a ‘pride of place’ in the community with the local school taking part, they have been awarded the green flag for the past two years.
President’s Visit to Murroe
On the 24th February this year, Murroe had the honour of welcoming President Mary McAleese and Dr. Martin McAleese to the village. They entered by the monument and stopped briefly at the playground where they met the playground committee. The streets were lined with children from the national school, scouts, GAA and Soccer Club and members of the local community. They continued to a packed Muintir na Tire hall they were greeted by the Community Council. A notice board was erected outside the hall with some points of interest in the village and these were introduced by the children from the local school. She was welcomed by Paddy Hourigan who acknowledged the historic significance of the day. The President took to the stage and gave a very uplifting oration and complimented the hard work put into the day. She was entertained by the local song school and presented with a small token from the Community. Kathleen Gunning then thanked them for their visit and they left the hall to meet and greet members of the public.
Festival Committee
The ‘Mary from Murroe’ festival is run in conjunction with Crokers Bar. It takes place in August and has been a huge success since its return three years ago. It styles itself on the theme of the Rose of Tralee. It’s a seek-end of fun and entertainment for all the family.
Bill Cullen Visit
The Garrawnbawn residents held an open day on Mary 12th. Bill Cullen was the guest speaker on the day. He spoke enthusiastically for over two hours and was delighted to answer questions from the floor.
Abington Enterprise Centre
It was suggested that the Community Council should look at taking over the old Creamery building and develop workshops to encourage job creation in the local area. A sub-committee was sert up and in the 1985 a deal was made with Golden Vale to lease the unused buildings and phase I began. In the years leading up to 2004 a further four phases were completed. The centre has a floor space of 10,000ft2 with unit sizes varying from 30ft2 to 1200ft2. There are currently fifteen companies that employ up to forty people operating from the centre.
Some of the businesses include:
Bakeries, Salad Production, Smoked & Barbequed Salmon, Curry Dishes, Fitted Furniture, Consultant Engineer, Builder, Costume Making, TV Repairs, Upholstery and U.P.V.C. Windows, to name a few.
Current Projects
The Muintir na Tire hall needs a new roof. We currently have applied for planning permission and fundraising will be getting under way very shortly. It is estimated that we will need €82,000 to cover the cost of the necessary work.