A.G.M. 2023
Minutes of the Executive Meeting of Stoneyford Development Association
03 May 2023 at 8pm
Present: Joe Whyte, Fr. Cassin, Regina Moran, Paul Moran, Paddy Ganly, Paul Hickey, John Raggett, Ber Grace, Adele Walsh, Tony Roche, Rob Lee, Maija Griffin, Billy Wallace, John Kennedy, John Raggett, Fred Malzard, Brid Malzard, Sean Raggett, Maura Raggett, Conchubhar de Roiste, Jackie de Roiste,
Kathy Ryan
Apologies: Fiona Benyon
The meeting was called to order at 8pm.
The Chairperson Joe Whyte presided.
Minutes of last meeting
The minutes of the last AGM – 06/12/2021 @ 8pm were read out.
Proposed: Paul Hickey
Seconded: Ber Grace
Matters Arising From the Minutes:
Tony Roche raised a query regarding the ‘Amount for Collection’. Why wasn’t it advertised?
AOB Updates of SDA:
- Update regarding Elderly Housing. Kilkenny County Council not interested.
- CE Scheme lost – The loss of CE workers will put pressure on the SDA & Community.
- TUS Worker Update – Currently one person – Dominic
- 2 workers lost recently. Currently no replacements available.
- The footpath to Ennisnag is now 50% complete. The new SDA committee were advised to keep the pressure on Kilkenny County Council to complete the remainder.
- Anglers group provided with diesel towards maintenance.
- Pat Phelan to install shelves to phone box
- Tidy Towns have been assisted by SDA to maintain their accounts..
- 2022 – The first couple of months were very quiet – so income down.
- Awaited accounts on website.
- Thanks from Community to outgoing – Conchubhar de Róiste.
- RIP to Mary Hughes & sympathy to the Hughes family.
- Xmas Tree Power will hopefully be reinstated by the new owners of adjoining property.
- Fr. Cassin provided an update regarding the Columbarian Wall in Stoneyford Cementary. 27 spaces are to be provided due to limited space for burials. Each niche can be carved on site.
- Fred Malzard mentioned a fundraiser for Ollie Roche had raised an additional €500.
- Text Alert – Margaret Hogan & Miriam Dowling have taken ownership of the Text Alert.
Chairperson’s Report:
I would like to welcome you all here tonight to the AGM of the Stoneyford Development Association.
Apologies for the delay in holding the AGM. I did plan to have it earlier but events forced me to postpone until now.
This AGM is probably the most momentous that we have had in many years and mainly because it sees a potential changing of the guard. Fred, Regina and myself are stepping down from our respective roles as Treasurer, Secretary and Chairperson. Why is this happening now you might ask? In my case and I think I speak for Fred as well it is because the debt that was incurred in the refurbishment of the Centre in 2011 was finally paid off on the 15th February this year.
The Stoneyford Development Association (SDA) is a fabulous organisation and I am proud to have been its chairperson for the last 15 years. The groundwork was laid long before I arrived on the scene but I would like to think that I maintained the vision of the original committee and that they would be proud of the facility that we have now. We have achieved a lot in those years and the facility is a credit to our community and the many volunteers who have given their time over the years.
The centre continues to be in demand with the many and varied groups that appreciate what it has to offer. It is home to our most active and supportive group, the Stoneyford Active Retirement Group (SARG) who use it for Art, Bowls, Fitness and meetings. And, they more than pay their way. At the other end of the age spectrum we have the Stagedoor drama group and most kids in the village first visit to the centre will be as members of this fantastic group. In between we have regular Dancing, Sewing and Computer classes along with intermittent keep fit, yoga and mindfulness. It is a huge backup to our sporting clubs when the weather is inclement but also for fitness activities. And let’s not forget our local National school who use it for Drama, Dancing and Fitness. As a result most days sees some activity in the centre itself and its excellent facilities has begun attracting organisations and groups from outside the village such as Macra and Kilkenny Leader partnership.
Sadly we have lost some of our treasured activities such as Bingo and the Christmas Fair. I am especially sad about the bingo because of the social aspect. However Covid and the resultant drop in numbers attending meant it was not financially viable to keep it going. But who knows what the future holds.
Future Direction
What now for the future? There is big changes being proposed and the new committee will have a lot of work to do. I speak of course about the proposed AstroTurf facility which would see the current grass park replaced with Astroturf. The recent public meeting set out the pros and cons of such a development and everybody was given an opportunity to state their views.
It will be up to the new committee to move this proposal along to the next stage which would involve a environmental impact assessment being carried out prior to applying for planning permission.
There are many unknowns as to how this development, should it proceed, will be managed. In all likelihood it will be the SDA as the lessee of the land and holder of the current Sports Capital Grant that will take on the debt which will be in the region of €300K or more. The logistics of the funding and repayment of this debt will be one of the first jobs of the new committee.
Make no mistake the servicing of this debt will be challenging. However, this debt cannot in any way take away from the current access to the facility, field or Centre.
The centre is and always should be a place for people of the community to enjoy and this cannot be jeopardised in any way. For example we will insist that certain clause are inserted in the Memorandum and Articles of the association that will enshrine access for all to the facility, that it will never be locked. These may prove difficult but are not negotiable.
In addition the rest of the community can not suffer financially as a result of the burden of this debt. Fair charges for the use of the centre must be maintained and events such as our recent Easter “Arts & Culture” evening must never be abandoned due to lack of finance.
In addition the SDA’s responsibility to the upkeep of the village such as Refuse collection and grass cutting must be maintained. In addition its support for groups such as Tidy Towns, History and Heritage and Ennisnag Anglers must be maintained.
If this does not happen we will lose the support of the people we are meant to serve.
Finally I would encourage the new committee to engage with the community, those for and against and alleviate any fears they may have. As part of this process we would like better integration between all the stakeholders and the new committee will be looking at strengthening the links between all the groups and bodies.
Please try and become involved or if you can’t, encourage others. Even if you can only contribute your voice.!!
Some thank you’s!
First and foremost my wife Patricia for her endless patience and support over the years. I will miss the “where were you. No, let me guess, the hall!”
My fellow board members but especially Fred (Malzard) who has stood with me every step of the way and always has an answer or a solution – whatever the problem. Regina Moran who never says no when asked for assistance and always challenges the status quo. To all the past board members who have given up their time over the years to the association – a huge debt of thanks!
Our own Committee for their commitment and help during the year and for which I am very grateful and especially to Paschal Long who up until recently kept the hall like a new pin! I would also like to send best wishes to Paschal for a speedy recovery.
Paschal has a very able replacement in Dominick Briscoe (TUS) who is and has been a great support in the short time he has been with us.
To Paul Ryan and Ollie Coleman and all past CE & TUS workers who have looked after the maintenance of the hall and village so well over the years.
Fr Cassin and Aghaviller parish for their very generous support without which my job would have been a lot harder.
To Conchubhar de Róiste for looking after the www.stoneyford.ie website and his unfailing support over the years – ably assisted by his better half Jackie.
Tom McGrath for keeping our tractor going for all the years we have had a tractor!
Liam Ireland for those electrical emergencies plus setting the timer on the field lights on more than one occasion!
Christy Hudson and lately Tommy O’Leary for those plumbing emergencies.
The O’Dwyer brothers Michael, Joe, Jimmy and Paddy for all their engineering work and support.
Martin Raggett (for always being available).
Brid Malzard – I don’t mean to single you out but thanks for all your support and wisdom and marshalling the troops when there is an event to be run.
Richie Power for his work over the years. (I only wish I could clone himself & Martin)
Paul Moran for assistance with the walking trail and always keeping Stoneyford in mind when there is any spare equipment going a begging.
To Darragh Hayden who is always available to help out with parking or any other jobs.
To Pamela Sheridan (Pamela Farragher – PF Design & Print) for all her generosity and help with the fundraiser
To our Tidy Towns group and our History & Heritage Society.
To all the groups who use the hall and contribute to its wellbeing.
To Deirdre Cullen, Kilkenny County Councillor for her help on the footpath and other ongoing projects.
Kilkenny County Council for their generous support with the many grants that they administer.
If I have forgotten anybody please accept my sincere apologies and be assured it isn’t deliberate……
Treasurer’s Report:
Debt paid 15/02/2023.
The village maintenance did not cost the community in 2022. That will not be the case going forward.
3/05/2023
Opening Bank Balance: €8004
Balance No. 1 account: €9240
Balance historic account: €85
Tidy Towns account: €2113
Credit Union account: €555
New Committee
Chairperson – Adele Walsh
Proposed: Rob Lee
Seconded: Maija Griffin
Secretary – Ken Cogley
Proposed: Billy Wallace
Seconded: Adele Walsh
Treasurer – John Kennedy
Proposed: John Raggett
Seconded: Rob Lee
Chairpersons Report:
See Notes:
Meeting ended 9.30pm
Next meeting: AGM – Date agreed 28th November 2024 at 8.30pm.
