Local History Talks

Through the early part of 2009 we held a series of Local History talks. These were held in four of the local houses of interest and the talks were given by Dr Bob Curran, a well known, local historian and author.

The first was held on Thursday 15th January 2009 at 7.30pm in Knockan House, and we were please to welcome 35 people along to our first event.

The evening started with a welcome to the house, and thanks to the hostess, Mrs Julia Stevenson. Dr Bob Curran then did the first part of his talk starting back in the 'mists of time' among the clans who lived in the area.

This was followed by the host/hostess giving us a short history of the house, when it was built, by whom, when it came into the family etc.

Inevitably the event included supper - scones, tea and buns were served while the guests were able to sit and relax and chat among themselves.

Our Official Opening

Friday 29th May 2009 was a most important evening for us - our Official Opening! It was a special occasion with invited guests and representatives of the bodies who had contributed funds for the building of the new Centre.

Unfortunately, the out-going Mayor of Limavady Council, Mrs Brenda Chivers, was unable to attend the actual

event but called with us earlier to see the Centre and to pass on greetings from the Council.

Our special guest was Mr Leslie Craig, Vice Chair of the Rural Development Council, the company which had managed the funding.

John James O'Kane spoke in his capacity as Chair of Dromboughil and expressed his thanks to all the groups who had funded the project, all involved in the preparation and building of the Centre, those who have so faithfully supported the work and the staff who keep the Centre functioning day to day.

The Official ribbon cutting was done by Leslie Craig and Miss Fanny Mullan OBE.

Supper was up to usual Dromboughil standards!

A good night was had with plenty of chat.

Limavady Council Information Roadshow

On Thursday 30th April 2009 we hosted our first event for which our Hall was hired.

It was a Council information roadshow to publicise Axis III funding, it was a very informative night. Advice was sought and given , and, of course supper was served.

View of the building and carpark as people chatted and enjoyed the good weather.

Some of the people who came along to get advice on funding.

Hub on the move

On 3rd February 2009 it was all happening in the yard of Robert and Valerie Buchanan's farm. It contained a tractor with a long trailer on the back and a large crane, there to bring about the transfer of the Hub to its' new home at the side of the new Centre.

Easy as that!

When the Hub was re-constructed in its new position at the side of the Centre it was decided that the paintwork needed freshened up. Extra shelving had been added as storage for the Craft Class and a worktop and sink had been installed.

The finished job was quite impressive.

The final touch when Alfie built the new ramp (to official requirements).

The Move

Saturday 10th January 2009 dawned suitably wet and miserable - maybe if we had kept it a secret that we had planned the move from the Hub to the new building on that day it might at least have been dry!


With the help of the local Boys Brigade Company and local volunteers The Hub was emptied into a couple of vans and the back seats and boots of various cars and transferred down the road.





























It was a long, tiring day and mandatory tea breaks were of course necessary.






Lunch was served in the Hall.
















The furniture was moved in and by the end of the day we had offices that we could work in - no phone but we had desks to work at - mobiles to the fore!

The final bit to be completed and a most essential one for the work of the Centre was our kitchen.

Then came the decoration

Colours were chosen and rooms painted.

The Board Room went Harvest.

The Office went pink!

The Office/Store went green ........

...... and shelves went up.

And most importantly we now had toilets - we had not had this privilege in The Hub!

The Main Hall with the wooden flooring going down

And now the work moved inside!

Now came the frustrating period - when you have a building but can do nothing with it as it has to be left for all the walls etc to dry out properly. Only when this has happened can the inside work begin for real.

The Board Room

The Hallway to Valerie's office/Store

I really wondered

how we were going to fit the furniture and us into the office!

Planning the kitchen - Valerie, Siobhan and Margaret.

The Main Hall