Kilcullen Credit Union: The New Building

July 3 2005

At the official opening of Kilcullen Credit Union's magnificent new building on Sunday next, there will be some people there remembering its very humble beginnings when its offices were in the late Paddy Nugent's sitting room.

As the song goes, 'It's a long long way, from there to here', though in distance terms the new building is literally only across the road from its first premises.

And that's part of the history of Kilcullen Credit Union, established in 1971, that its current directors wanted to retain the links to, when, some five years ago they were trying to decide on its future.

"We knew then that Kilcullen was at last going to grow very quickly," says Chairman Jim Barker. "The building we were in wouldn't be able to cope, and even as it was there were difficulties for people who couldn't come upstairs to where we operated. After a good deal of thought, and visiting many other Credit Unions which had renovated their premises, we decided it was time to build."

The site around the existing building, into which they had moved at the end of 1977, was a difficult one to expand on, and the building itself is a protected structure, so the officers also gave real consideration to moving elsewhere.

"We finally came to the conclusion that there were no other sites around which had the advantages of our existing one, principally in terms of location," Jim Barker recalls. "Besides, we had been here so long, we were anxious to hold on to the history of it."

Conor Finnegan of architects McCarthy O'Hora Associates from Portlaise was given charge of the design, planning and tendering processes, and eventually builders Frank C Murray & Sons Construction Ltd from Roscrea took possession of the site in August of 2003. The Credit Union's own Clerk of Works for the project was one of the organisation stalwarts, Vincent O'Halloran. "He was absolutely brilliant, because he personally had our interests at heart," says Jim.

The building, now recognised as a flagship one for Kilcullen, made the most of the steep riverside site, and connected with the existing preserved building in a way that either section doesn't upset the facade of the other. The design incorporates the historical element of the ancient round tower at Old Kilcullen, which was the centre of the original monastic settlement from which modern Kilcullen Bridge took its name. It was completed in time for the Credit Union to return to its home in September 2004, after a year in temporary offices across the river.

Sunday's celebrations begin at 3pm and the official opening will be carried out by Anne O'Byrne, the recently-elected President of the Irish League of Credit Unions. Anne is from Blessington CU and has long had a warm relationship with the Kilcullen union.

Special among the guests for the occasion will be most of the surviving members of the original Board, as well as many former chairpersons. There will also be officials from the Chapter Seven regional grouping, and from the national League.

The very first Board members were Owen Cooney, Timmy Lynch, Brian Keyes, Padraig Brophy, Jim Corrigan, Mary Conroy, Judy Halloran, Christy Sheridan, Anna May Brady, Noreen Lynch, Lily Barker, Fr Cathal Price, Jack and Mary Kelly, and Jim Barrett.

The current Board are Chairman Jim Barker, Vice Chairman Pat Stafford, Secretary Philomena Griffin, Treasurer Vivienne Byrne, Sheila Schwer, Liz O’Brien, Anne McNally, Terry Lawler, Mary Domican-Egan, Gerardette McDonnell, P J Fagan, Pat Goulding, and Arthur Duffy. The Supervisors are Miriam O’Brien, Mary Carroll, and Roisin Talbot.

At the end of the first five months of the operation of Kilcullen Credit Union, in September of 1971, membership had reached 60, and there was a share capital of £816.75.

As the organisation officially celebrates its latest premises achievement, it has 1,900 members, and a share capital of €4.5 million.

From its beginnings, the growth and development of Kilcullen Credit Union is a story of a dream being turned to reality and then overcoming many hurdles and occasionally taking opportunities that at the time might have been considered going too far. Among these, after 'living' in a number of places until it acquired its own 'home' in 1977, was that particular achievement.

Kilcullen Credit Union is still just across the road from its beginnings, but has travelled a marvellous journey, and on the way has contributed in an immeasurable way to the growth and achievements of Kilcullen and its people over the last 34 years.

(EDITOR'S NOTE: This is a feature written for the Leinster Leader to mark the occasion of the official opening of the organisation's new building, on 3 July 2005. The text of a booklet written to mark the first 21 years of the Credit Union can be acccessed here.)