A great day for local community
New Scéal shop officially opened in Lorrha
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A section of the large crowd that turned out for the official opening of the new Scéal shop in Lorrha on Sunday week last. Photos: Rose Mannion.Image 2 of 4
Fr Tom O’Halloran, Co PP; Fr Pat Deely; Fr Michael Cooney, Co PP, and Rev Arthur Minion pictured as they blessed the new Scéal shop in Lorrha just before the official opening.Image 3 of 4
Cathaoirleach of Tipperary Co Council Cllr John Carroll, Derek Coulter – architect, Michael Lowry, TD, and Cathaoirleach Nenagh Municipal District Cllr Phyll Bugler pictured at the official opening of the new Scéal shop in Lorrha.Image 4 of 4
Two former chairmen - James Heenan and David Broderick -along with present chairman Patrick Cahalan, pictured cutting the ribbon to officially open the new Scéal shop in Lorrha.The new Scéal shop in Lorrha village was officially opened on Sunday, June 14, in lovely June weather where the large crowd that turned out for the event could sit and relax outside and listen to the speakers.
This new addition to St Ruadhán’s Community Hall adds a very attractive extension, which doubles up as a heritage and tea room as well as the shop. Grant-funded from the Government’s Town and Village Renewal Scheme, the committee also undertook a ‘Buy a Brick’ donation event, which is still up and running, and brought contributions in from all over. This fundraiser is still running and can be accessed online for anyone who wishes to contribute.
A committee was formed back in the late 1980s to build a community hall in Lorrha as there was nowhere to bring visitors for refreshments. Fundraising was undertaken, with car loads of people setting off every weekend selling tickets, travelling all over the country. Farmers in the parish reared cattle and auctions took place of timber, fuel, etc, too. Eventually, money came into the account, Brian Haslam supplied the lovely well positioned site right beside the school, and St Ruadhán's Community Hall was built in 1994 by a FÁS Scheme, and this is when it all began.
Eventually the post office in the village closed and Maher’s shop ceased trading, unable to meet with the huge overheads, and suddenly there was a real need for a shop.
After a public meeting was held, a new committee called Scéal was born and all involved over the years have worked towards this end.
The sod on this extension was turned in 2024 and at the official opening of the new build, everyone was relieved and delighted, not to mention the present committee involved led by their chairman Patrick Cahalan, to see all the hard work come to a wonderful conclusion and a success story for the village.
Local politicians turned out - TDs Michael Lowry and Ryan O’Meara, Cllrs Ann Rabbitt from Portumna along with Cathaoirleach of Tipperary Co Council Cllr John Carroll, Cathaoirleach of Nenagh Municipal District Cllr Phyll Bugler, with apologies received from Cllr Michael O’Meara, who was out of the country.
There were many speakers on the day of the official opening, all praising this hugely important facility in the village of Lorrha, which wouldn’t exist without the huge effort invested by so many volunteers – over 30 in total.
Pat Cahalan, the current Chair of Scéal, said they were grateful to Deputy Michael Lowry for being helpful in getting a Town and Village Renewal grant for €249,000 for the extension of the hall. He mentioned and thanked the architect Derek Coulter and all the people involved in the building.