Call made for Newbridge Hall funds to go to local theatre company
O'Modhráin Hall on Newbridge's Cutlery Road was sold in 2021
THE final resting place for over €200,000 received from the sale of O’Modhrain Hall in Newbridge will become a lot clearer in early November, after the Board of Conradh na Gaelige meet to discuss the propositions as presented by campaigners from the town.
These campaigners are calling on the charities regulator not to give the sale proceeds from the O’Modhráin Hall to Conradh na Gaeilge, but instead to the local theatre company Crooked House. Campaigners believe they have identified a problem with the restricted fund earmarked to receive the money.
Orla O’Neill — originally from Newbridge, and the daughter of a former trustee of the hall — has worked on this campaign since the hall was put up for sale by trustees in 2017.
She believes the rules for the Liam Bulfin Fund described on Conradh na Gaeilge’s website are not the same as those outlined in the charities regulator’s public notice.
“Conradh publishes its annual reports on its website and the criteria for the Liam Bulfin fund are detailed there, along with activities of the fund over the past few years.
“They write about seed funding for loans and internal loans for Conradh’s operational development. This is different to what is described in the public notice.
“There is a question whether Conradh is acting outside its powers by seeking to accept the money from the O’Modhráin Hall.”
Momentum has been growing at a local level to get behind an alternative proposal for the hall proceeds which would keep the money in Newbridge.
An initiative with Crooked House Theatre Company, which makes theatre for, and by young people has been championed by many.
“Conradh Na Gaeilge does a lot of excellent work, but it’s a national organization and I believe strongly that the funds realised should be spent in Newbridge,” said Senator Fiona O’Loughlin.
The Crooked House charity was established in Newbridge over 30 years ago and works with young people, community groups and schools.
Unsurprisingly, they said they are willing to accept the funds for what will be an exciting ‘new works’ bilingual initiative showcasing Irish culture, literature and language in a modern context.
The initiative would allow for participation by a large number of young people over the next five years, and the project would honour the legacy of Eamonn O Modhráin, an eminent Kildare Republican and Gaelgeoir whose family still lives in the area, one of whom was a member of the Theatre company.
"Our youth theatre develops projects, often at international level, about having pride in our native language,” said Peter Hussey, the artistic director of Crooked House.
“We would like to develop our capacity to showcase Irish music, culture, film and theatre that is created by young people and community groups in our town.
“We began, earlier this year, a weekly drama workshop through Gaeilge that we would like to expand as part of a larger bilingual programme to the public."
The charities regulator has started the legal process around offering the funds to Conradh na Gaeilge and has invited the public to send their views and suggestions about the current proposal before 23 October 2024.
