Fundraising Bazaar, 7th December 2012

The DDCDA and the Doohamlet Hall Committee are holding a joint fundraising Christmas Bazaar on Friday, 7th December 2012 in the Golden Jubilee Hall. This will be a great night, with lots of great prizes to be won and will be a fun family event.

All funds raised will go back to the DDCDA and the Hall Committee for ongoing projects within the Community.

DDCDA Projects

In 2012, together with an unprecedented amount of help from the local community, the DDCDA facilitated 2 projects with Monaghan Community Forum's "Hands Together 2" project at the Community Hall. Over 18 weeks during the Summer, the fantastic "Gairdin na gClog" Community Garden was created in the wasteland beside the Hall. The garden includes a river walk with bridges, seating areas, beautiful views of the old stone arch bridges over the river and native planting to encourage biodiversity. The garden is a huge addition to the Hall and is open to anyone to walk around at any time. The official opening of the garden took place at the end of September 2012 and there was a huge turnout from the local community to mark the achievements of all of our volunteers. The garden was funded through voluntary labour, the generosity of local people who donated plant and materials (and facilitated the opening celebrations), Monaghan Community Forum and from DDCDA funds. No fundraising was previously held for the garden.

In October and November 2012 the "Hands Together 2" project and the DDCDA held a Traditional STone Wall Building Workshop at the Community Hall. A new stone wall was built along the front of the Hall, made with natural stone and lime mortar. A specialist was employed for 1 week to teach participants the traditional stone building technique, and over the following 6 weeks a dedicated group of people worked long days at the Hall to build the wall. A stone plaque, handcarved by John Doran and Paul McElroy with the name of the garden was built into the wall. The wall is now almost complete, but is covered up to protect it with frost. We look forward to the unveiling in Spring 2013. Again, the wall was built using the support and generosity of volunteers and with materials donated by local people. The project was cofunded by Monaghan Community Forum and from DDCDA funds. There has been no fundraising for the wall project.

The DDCDA also undertakes a wide range of other projects and initiatives in Doohamlet. A new cross-border project is being undertaken with Armagh group REACT, and a new project worker has been employed to facilitate the project worth almost £84,000, funded by Peace III. The project will provide opportunities for local people to participate in a wide range of free trips and events in 2013 and more information will be announced soon. The DDCDA also invites Santa to visit the children of Doohamlet every year and to turn on the lights on the village Christmas Tree. Santa is coming on the 9th December at 5pm this year, and this free event is funded by the DDCDA. The DDCDA is also investigating a potential project to develop a walk around Tonyscallon Lake, and is onvolved in proposals to upgrade Doohamlet Hall.

The DDCDA relies on local support to fund and progress all of these activities.

The Doohamlet Golden Jubilee Community Hall

The Community Hall is a very important facility in our village. In 2016, the building will mark it's 50th anniversary as a Community Hall. Fitness classes, sports, youth club, daycare and meetings are all held in the hall.

In October 2012 a new Community Hall Committee was elected under the stewardship of Chairman John Doran. The Hall Committee is now putting in place measures to improve the operation and comfort of the hall, and is proposing to progress plans to upgrade and redevelop the hall. A Phase 1 upgrade of the existing building has already received planning permission, and potential funding options are being explored. In the meantime, maintenance and repair works are needed in the Hall, and much needed funds are required.


Together, the DDCDA and the Hall Committee are hoping for a big turnout at the Bazaar on Friday, 7th December. Your support will be much appreciated!

Hall Redevelopment Meeting, 4th April 2011, 8.30pm

Further to a meeting held on the 21st March 2011, another hall redevelopment general meeting will be held on Monday, 4th April 2011 at 8.30pm in the Golden Jubilee Hall.

The purpose of this meeting will be to agree a way forward to identify and design improvements and upgrades to the facilities in the Golden Jubilee Hall. This may involve refurbishing, extending or rebuilding sections of the hall and could be a major project which will be undertaken over the upcoming years. It is hoped to have the major improvement project completed in time for the 50th anniversary celebrations in the hall in 2016.

Gerard Callan of Monaghan Community Network and Marianne McEneaney of Leader will attend Monday night's meeting to facilitate the group and offer advice.

All members of the community are invited to attend on Monday night, particularly those who are regular users of the hall or who would use the hall if the facilities were improved. Local people with any expertise in construction, building trades, engineering, architecture etc will also be very welcome to give advice or comment on proposals.

Doohamlet Hall Redevelopment

Doohamlet District Development Association and Doohamlet Hall Committee are currently looking at the potential for upgrading the Jubilee Hall Doohamlet.

In 1966 this hall was officially opened as a community Centre and the above Committees are anxious that in 2016 this Centre can again celebrate by positively reflecting the benefits of this facility to the entire community spanning 2 centuries.

Therefore YOU ARE INVITED TO THE JUBILEE HALL ON 21 MARCH 2011 AT 8PM (Monday night after St Patrick’s Day ) to offer your suggestions for upgrading/ demolition/ reconstruction/ refurbishment of the Centre and its surrounds.

Some refurbishments have taken place over recent years to toilets and kitchen facilities however the hall itself requires a major facelift to attract the community to use it for the benefit of the community into the future. So please come and give your opinion – all suggestions will be listened to and hopefully as a result a comprehensive plan can be produced to guide developments over a phased basis.