Hostel and Self Catering Accommodation
at the Benwiskin Centre, Co. Sligo

In 1994 BEG decided to become a Limited Company with a board of eleven directors.  At this time they approached Coilte in relation to developing the overgrown Barytes Mill site at the base of The Gleniff Horseshoe Drive in Ballintrillick.  BEG purchased this site and, with the assistance of two Fás CE Schemes, have cleared away the overgrowth, rebuilt the stables, reconstructed the water wheel, erected picnic tables and developed a woodland walk around it. 

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:-

Present day
The group currently employs 3 full time and 2 part-time staff - A Manager, an Assistant, 2 Housekeepers and a Caretaker.  Along with this we give ad-hoc employment to around 10/13 tutors a year.  There is also reliance on voluntary help at times from members of BEG and members of the community.  

BEG have recently been selected as 1 of 3 groups to represent Sligo in the All-Island Co-operation Ireland Pride of Place Competition 2010.  The group were selected as 'Single Issue Winner in the Community Response to Unemployment' category. 

In June 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!