Benwiskin Centre, Ballintrillick, Co. Sligo - Hostel & Self Catering
tel. / fax. +353 (0)71 91 76721 info@benwiskincentre.com
GPS: 54° 24' 46" N 8° 23' 26" W
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Hostel and Self Catering Accommodation
at the Benwiskin Centre, Co. Sligo
Ballintrillick Environmental Group Ltd.Ballintrillick Environmental Group Ltd. ('BEG') opened The Benwiskin Centre in July 2000. The basic premise of the Centre is that it is a Community Centre in the wintertime with classes, functions, entertainment and a place for the local community to use for meeting and socials. It is a Tourist Hostel for the summertime, which is the main revenue generator for the building. In reality, over the past 11 years we have found that we actually have guests all year round. Depending on visitors staying, we also have community usage in the summertime too. It’s a fine balance trying to accommodate both!
Nine people formed BEG in March 1992 when concerns were raised about the high levels of illegal dumping in the scenic area of Ballintrillick, North Co Sligo. A clean up day was organised which mobilised local interest and support, and has now become an annual event with 2011 seeing the 19th Annual clean up.
In 1996, BEG participated in a FAS training programme. It was during this course that BEG identified and considered various opportunities for local development. One of their ideas that emerged was that of developing the old Vocational School in Ballintrillick.
The School had remained largely unused, was not maintained by a caretaker and had fallen into disrepair through neglect and vandalism. It was only used on an ad-hoc basis for meetings and some fundraising social events. So BEG approached the County Sligo VEC to obtain a long-term lease, which would be necessary for any major development work on behalf of BEG. This was achieved in June 1999, when a 20-year lease was approved.
In 1996 a feasibility study was carried out to assess the viability of a Hostel co-existing with a Community Centre. The positive results from this secured capital funding from Peace & Reconciliation, Sligo LEADER Partnership Board and the International Fund for Ireland. Further funding for equipping was acquired from Sligo County Enterprise Board, Social Welfare and The Ireland Funds. Finally a loan was obtained from the Sligo County Enterprise Fund and fundraising covered the shortfall. A further report was compiled by a member of BEG as part of the Diploma in Community Development Practice, which researched the viability of using the school as a dual purpose building, thus fulfilling conditions set out by P&R. A marketing plan was also commissioned around this time.
In 1998 and 1999, BEG sponsored 2 successful FAS CE Schemes and they had 4 successful Student Summer Jobs Scheme placements, who held art workshops with local children.
Charitable Status was awarded to BEG in January 1999, which has been extremely important as they continue fundraising the cover their financial commitments.
In September 1999, BEG retained Gerry Clancy as Contractor and construction and refurbishment work began on the Old Vocational School, which is now called The Benwiskin Centre. The refurbished, renovated and extended Centre opened in July 2000 and has a large common room/community hall, a fully equipped kitchen, a dining room, a laundry, a drying room, male/female and disabled access toilets and showers, six en-suite bedrooms that can now accommodate 28/30 people and a fully equipped office and reception.
All profits from The Centre are used to provide further developments by BEG in the Centre and Community. Over the last couple of years, BEG have installed Solar Panels and a Wood Pellet Boiler at the Centre with the purpose of eventually eliminating their need for oil thereby using natural energy and easing their dependence on fossil fuels. The solar panels have been jointly funded by County Sligo Leader Partnership Company under their National Rural Development Programme and BEG. The Solar Panels were installed by Thomas Taaffe and Peter Schneider. Arigna Leader together with the Swiss Company Energidalen installed the pellet boiler. This project was funded by County Sligo Leader Partnership Company. The Benwiskin Centre is one of 3 pilot projects being used to demonstrate the use of wood pellet boilers for heat generation in community run projects.
We continue to seek further funding to enable us to do even more work. Grants have been received over the last few years from the following groups for the projects listed:-
BEG also do a number of fundraising activites at the Centre to include BEG's Summer Social and the very popular card games which have been running for many years from October to March and are run effortlessly by volunteers Pat McGowan and Johnny Duignan.
Present day
The group currently employs 3 full time and 3 part-time staff - A Manager, an Office Assistant, 3 Housekeepers and a Caretaker. Along with this, BEG gives ad-hoc employment to around 13 tutors a year. There is also reliance on voluntary help at times from members of BEG and members of the community.
In 2010, BEG were selected as 1 of 3 community groups to represent Sligo in the All-Island Co-operation Ireland Pride of Place Competition as 'Single Issue Winner in the Community Response to Unemployment' category. At the finals in Meath in November, represented by every county in Ireland, BEG came 2nd in their category.
Also in 2010, BEG celebrated the 10th anniversary of the opening of The Benwiskin Centre. 3 days of activities were held which were a huge success.
Thank you to all those who have supported us over the 10 years and heres to the next 10!
Nine people formed BEG in March 1992 when concerns were raised about the high levels of illegal dumping in the scenic area of Ballintrillick, North Co Sligo. A clean up day was organised which mobilised local interest and support, and has now become an annual event with 2011 seeing the 19th Annual clean up.
In 1996, BEG participated in a FAS training programme. It was during this course that BEG identified and considered various opportunities for local development. One of their ideas that emerged was that of developing the old Vocational School in Ballintrillick.
The School had remained largely unused, was not maintained by a caretaker and had fallen into disrepair through neglect and vandalism. It was only used on an ad-hoc basis for meetings and some fundraising social events. So BEG approached the County Sligo VEC to obtain a long-term lease, which would be necessary for any major development work on behalf of BEG. This was achieved in June 1999, when a 20-year lease was approved.
In 1996 a feasibility study was carried out to assess the viability of a Hostel co-existing with a Community Centre. The positive results from this secured capital funding from Peace & Reconciliation, Sligo LEADER Partnership Board and the International Fund for Ireland. Further funding for equipping was acquired from Sligo County Enterprise Board, Social Welfare and The Ireland Funds. Finally a loan was obtained from the Sligo County Enterprise Fund and fundraising covered the shortfall. A further report was compiled by a member of BEG as part of the Diploma in Community Development Practice, which researched the viability of using the school as a dual purpose building, thus fulfilling conditions set out by P&R. A marketing plan was also commissioned around this time.
In 1998 and 1999, BEG sponsored 2 successful FAS CE Schemes and they had 4 successful Student Summer Jobs Scheme placements, who held art workshops with local children.
Charitable Status was awarded to BEG in January 1999, which has been extremely important as they continue fundraising the cover their financial commitments.
In September 1999, BEG retained Gerry Clancy as Contractor and construction and refurbishment work began on the Old Vocational School, which is now called The Benwiskin Centre. The refurbished, renovated and extended Centre opened in July 2000 and has a large common room/community hall, a fully equipped kitchen, a dining room, a laundry, a drying room, male/female and disabled access toilets and showers, six en-suite bedrooms that can now accommodate 28/30 people and a fully equipped office and reception.
All profits from The Centre are used to provide further developments by BEG in the Centre and Community. Over the last couple of years, BEG have installed Solar Panels and a Wood Pellet Boiler at the Centre with the purpose of eventually eliminating their need for oil thereby using natural energy and easing their dependence on fossil fuels. The solar panels have been jointly funded by County Sligo Leader Partnership Company under their National Rural Development Programme and BEG. The Solar Panels were installed by Thomas Taaffe and Peter Schneider. Arigna Leader together with the Swiss Company Energidalen installed the pellet boiler. This project was funded by County Sligo Leader Partnership Company. The Benwiskin Centre is one of 3 pilot projects being used to demonstrate the use of wood pellet boilers for heat generation in community run projects.
We continue to seek further funding to enable us to do even more work. Grants have been received over the last few years from the following groups for the projects listed:-
- Dept. of Social Protection
Funding towards staff wages. Wages topped up by BEG - Sligo Co. Childcare Committee
Benwiskin Centre Parent and Toddler Group
Benwiskin Centre summer camps
Parenting courses - Sligo Co. Council Led PEACE II Task Force
Marketing Project - Sligo Co. Council - PEACE III funding
Darty Youth Group, a new youth group in the area, participated in workshops based on team building, cultural diversity, prejudice, racism, stereotyping and confident building. Drumcliffe Youth Group were also involved in the project - Sligo Co. Council Arts Dept.
Benwiskin Centre Summer Camps
Tutors fees for our children's art classes
A living willow sculpture project in the grounds of the Centre - Sligo Co. Council - Hertage Dept.
Funding enabled us to produce a booklet about the Barytes Mill Site at the base of the Gleniff Horseshoe
and a Walking and Cycling booklet
Information boards about the local flora and fauna - Co. Sligo Leader Partnership Co. Ltd.
Upgrade of Millsite amenity area (part funded by Sligo Leader and BEG)
Well Women Wellbeing programme - Co. Sligo VEC
Assistance towards tuitions fees for adult art classes
Loan of suite of laptops for computer classes at Benwiskin Centre - HSE (Lottery funding)
Funding towards the purchase of a new TV for the centre & electrical work
Funding towards tutor's fees for our community garden project - BT Community Connections
Awarded us a free laptop with a grant to enable us to offer free internet access to the community and centre users
BEG also do a number of fundraising activites at the Centre to include BEG's Summer Social and the very popular card games which have been running for many years from October to March and are run effortlessly by volunteers Pat McGowan and Johnny Duignan.
Present day
The group currently employs 3 full time and 3 part-time staff - A Manager, an Office Assistant, 3 Housekeepers and a Caretaker. Along with this, BEG gives ad-hoc employment to around 13 tutors a year. There is also reliance on voluntary help at times from members of BEG and members of the community.
In 2010, BEG were selected as 1 of 3 community groups to represent Sligo in the All-Island Co-operation Ireland Pride of Place Competition as 'Single Issue Winner in the Community Response to Unemployment' category. At the finals in Meath in November, represented by every county in Ireland, BEG came 2nd in their category.
Also in 2010, BEG celebrated the 10th anniversary of the opening of The Benwiskin Centre. 3 days of activities were held which were a huge success.
Thank you to all those who have supported us over the 10 years and heres to the next 10!
Room Availability
The Benwiskin Centre is available for hire in its entirety to groups and residential workshops. Contact us on (0)71 9176721 or email your enquiry for further details.
