It was a night of celebration as the crowds gathered in picturesque Ballinvreena last Sunday evening for the official opening of the recently extended and refurbished local Community Centre.

The Centre was officially opened by the CEO of Ballyhoura Development Carmel Fox, and blessed by the parish priest of Bulgaden-Martinstown, Fr. Gerard McNamara.

Michael O’Reilly was MC for the evening and welcomed everybody including local public representatives. Mr. O’Reilly gave an outline of how the considerable development of the Centre came about. Other speakers included Tim Shanahan, Chairman of the Community Centre, Carmel Fox and the public representatives.

The organising committee used the occasion to launch the latest series of Crossroads Dancing which has been running for sixteen years. Charlie Reynolds took to the stage and revellers danced the night away. The series will run every Sunday evening from 8 to 10pm from now until September. Weather permitting, the dancing will be under the sky in the great outdoors but, when inclement, dancers will revert inside to the well appointed new Community Centre.