The Mullaghdun Community Association are gearing up to celebrate their 30th anniversary later this week at their local community centre, which was once the old school. 

The association are a shy bunch, with both members the Herald spoke to asking for their names to be kept out of the paper, “because everyone works equally hard”, but each spoke with great pride of what they had achieved over the past three decades. 

“We had our first function in 1986, a Christmas party that we held in the old school,” recalled one committee member. “Some people had got together before that and decided to do a bit of renovation at the school. It had been empty for around 10 years 

“Some people thought it would be a good idea to open it up for the community, and so we’d have something for the young people. It started off with a steering group, and there was a great interest and a lot of voluntary work. There were a lot of skilled workers, like carpenters and joiners who came in and helped. There were quite a lot of people involved. Everyone had a skill, and they used it.”

The group then extended the school, building the hall they still use today.

“It was really to have somewhere for the young ones to play,” said the committee member. “In those days people didn’t have as many cars to get to places like Belcoo and Enniskillen, so we needed something local.”

Over the years the Mullaghdun Community Association have been provided facilities for the surrounding areas in Fermanagh and Cavan, providing activities that have educational, health and social value. These include dances, courses, fitness and yoga classes, sports days, fashion shows, parties, and funeral teas. 

Next weekend they will be celebrating their anniversary with a special programme of events. Starting on Friday, September 23 with a social dance in the community hall, from 9.30-12 midnight, there will then be a music seminar at Saturday with choirs from around the area, culminating in a mass the next day at a special Mass in St Joseph’s on Sunday at 11.30am, followed by a coffee morning. 

Those taking part in the seminar will be learning a new  programme of hymns which they will then be performing at the Mass. 

“We’re calling it a celebration of community and parish, and it’s to mark the 30th anniversary of the Mullaghdun Community Association,” said another member of the association. “We’re hoping who are from the area but who have maybe moved away will come back to Mullaghdun for that weekend.”