About Banteer
Banteer is a rural village in the barony of Duhallow with a population of approx 360 people with another 500 approx living in outlying areas.
Banteer was once known for its very famous Banteer Sports which ran from 1886 to 1986 with All Ireland sports being held on its famous cinder track in 1965 and 1972.
However, like most rural villages in the 1980’s, it suffered a decline with young people leaving and the consequent loss of shops and services.
This was a challenge for all rural communities, to put their shoulder to the wheel and plug into the various sources of services and funding which would empower people to create a better quality of life for all in their community.
Banteer is a perfect example of a community who took this challenge seriously and the community has developed a whole range of facilities/services over the past thirty to forty years.
This regeneration work also coincided with, and was greatly helped by, the formation of IRD Duhallow, a very important community based integral rural development company that was established in 1989.
The company combines the efforts and resources of the State bodies, local authorities, local communities and individual entrepreneurs for the benefit of the Duhallow area.
Banteer is now an example and an inspiration to other communities having completed such key project and services as:
> Over €7 million of community facilities/services projects have been completed with no outstanding debt and all very sustainable development
> Employment created for over 42 local people plus others on RSS, CE and Tús schemes
Won various awards including: – AIB Better Ireland
– National Tidy Towns Wildlife and Endeavour Awards – All Island Pride of Place award for Glen Theatre
– Cork County Mayor’s Award 2023 for Sportsfield
– Duhallow Business Awards (2015 and 2022),
– Limerick Civic Trust Award,
– Litter Challenge and Tidy Towns Awards – IRD Community Awards
> Provision of facilities that provide, recreation facilities, youth club, sporting facilities, childcare service, arts and music, environmental and wildlife protection, social services, transport services, improved communication services, energy reduction, historical information/ archives ,local meal service and many other community needs.
Outside of the construction of built facilities the community also has:
> Text alert systems, social alarms systems, community defibrillator systems, very active Tidy Towns group
> Implemented cost reducing energy projects across all community facilities including schools in conjunction with a BEC scheme with further energy work in progress in 2023
> Developed fishing facilities locally and walkways along the Glen River
> Restored local heritage sites such as Sundays Well and the erection of the Dr Pat O’Callaghan, Ambush and other monuments
> Developed a local housing policy in 2006 – later adopted by Cork County Council as part of its own policy
> Upgraded the railway station with Iarnrod Eireann to a state of the art totally automated station
> Provision of E-fibre broadband to facilitate local enterprise/social interaction and remote working
> Developed transport services to major towns and cities via rail travel, weekly Bus Eireann service and Local Link bus service to/from Kanturk and weekly bingo, etc.
Overall, we believe this combination of projects/services has led to a better quality of life for all the people of Banteer.
Banteer Community Sportsfield & Park
Multi-sport facility including grass and full sized astro pitches and home to local GAA clubs, ladies football, camogie, juvenile and adult soccer, juvenile and senior athletics clubs, walkers, St. Joseph’s Foundation, Cork amputee teams, local schools, Macra etc.
> Fully lit circuit walks circuit around the facility
> Children’s playground and hurling wall
> Park area with lake/fishing stands, seating, children’s attractions and bio diversity/planting
> Café area with Digital museum and Digital hub with air/water heat pump system
> Spectator stand areas /solar water heating systems
> Changing rooms – 6 off- with toilets, baby changing and disabled facilities
> Media box area and disabled spectator viewing areas
> Various landscaping and planting including wild flowers area and bio diversity planting
> Recent €2.2M development project funded by Rural Regeneration, Leader, Sports Capital and County Council completed in Jan 2023 with all paid for this year
Banteer Community Centre/ Indoor Astro Turf
> Community centre/hall area with stage and kitchen area built in 1984
> 45m by 30m indoor astroturf built in 2009 used by all sports, schools, childcare centre and also used as temporary rest centre in 2022 for Ukrainian refugees
> Changing rooms with showers, etc
> Solar water heating system for shower water
> Hall area used for weekly Tues bingo /music training/dancing train- ing /yoga classes /badminton /indoor games /youth club /community meetings
> Community group purchased adjacent land at the rear
The facility has been developed over the past 30 years into a state of the art /culture venue, which caters for all activities in the community and brings many visitors to the area, particularly those tracking their ancestors who may have attended Banteer Old School and they browse the roll books.
In the mid 90’s a locally formed arts/drama committee decided to purchase the old derelict, Banteer National School building, which was originally built in 1841.
The building had ceased to be used as a school in 1975 and was in fact used as a cow shed by a local farmer until 1994 when the committee purchased the facility at a cost of £25,000.
The committee then set about developing the building and the main emphasis then was to make it usable as a community facility to promote arts and culture in the region.
The Glen Theatre Drama Group was founded in 1988. In the beginning the Community Centre in Banteer Village was the venue for the group’s performances, but since 1996 the Glen Theatre has become the home of the Drama Group.
The Glen Theatre was officially opened in 2005 by Mrs. Mary Keane wife of the late John B Keane. Any profits from the facility are ploughed back into further improvements.
Over the past 25 years, many more improvements have been added to the facility and today the venue can house up to 160 people and is fitted with:
– Telescopic seating for 100 people, plus 60 other seats. The telescopic seating can be retracted to give a completely open floor area
– A large stage area with a new state of the art lighting system – Back stage area which includes 2 dressing rooms and ensuite/
shower facilities and changing areas
– Members bar area with original open style fireplace – Kitchen /tearoom area with cooking facilities
– Conference equipment with digital projector etc
– Box office
– Store areas for seating, bar stock etc
– Ladies/gents toilet facilities
– Disabled toilet facilities
– Disabled access
– Tarmac and car park, gates, etc.
– Sound and lighting systems
The Glen Theatre has also received the following awards:
> AIB Better Ireland Award
> National Tidy Towns Sustainable Development Award > All Island Pride of Place Award winners
> IRD Duhallow Community Award
The venue hosts up to 120 events each year such as:
– Drama by the Glen Theatre Drama Group and visiting groups – Drama such as “The Crowman by Jon Kenny
– Live music events such as Gerry Guthrie, Eleanor Shanley,
Sean Keane, etc.
– Comedy by visiting comedians such as Pat Shortt etc.
– Drama Festivals with visiting drama groups also
– Banteer Old school reunion weekend
– “Voice of the Glen” singing competition
– Youth Theatre /drama training
– School talent shows
– Poetry reading and storytelling nights
– Irish Music nights
– Children’s Arts competitions/workshops
– Children’s parties such as Santa parties
– Macra talent shows and events
– The centre is used by local businesses for conference /meeting such as North Cork Co –op AGM, etc.
– Community events such as training courses, yoga, meetings
– Youth club events and Senior Citizens meetings
– Garda training for Cork/Kerry area
– Private events such as funerals, birthday catering
Banteer Community Childcare Centre
Since it first opened its doors 16 years ago, this non-profit community enterprise has been a major success with some 240 children on its roll books.
The state of art facility opened its doors in 2007, after several years of work by the local community group. The facility received €1.3 million in grant aid to bring the dream to reality, and it has had to expand several times in the intervening years, such has been the demand for the excellent services provided with up to another €500,000 euros spent on same.
The facility caters for babies, wobblers and toddlers, as well as pre- school age children. It also has breakfast and afterschool clubs. It is open from 7am until 6:30pm for 49 weeks of the year.
It has proven to be an invaluable facility at the heart of Duhallow, especially where parents have to make an early start at work and travel many miles from their homes to Cork, Mallow, Limerick, Killarney etc.
BCC encourages the children’s holistic learning and development providing hands on, meaningful experiences in a happy, safe and caring environment.
The Centre runs 4 preschools including 2 through the medium of Irish and runs various programmes such as the NCS, ECCE and AIM.
Children also participate in an environmental learning experience each year. They learn about recycling with a trip to the recycling centre in Millstreet, wind energy, solar panels and conservation of energy and they practice these skills throughout the year. BCC also has a purpose built sensory room and sensory garden promoting the inclusion of children with additional needs, and to ensure that children with challenges can meaningfully participate in the relevant programmes in a mainstream setting.
The centre also has an ‘open door’ policy where parents are welcome to drop in at any time. Parents and members of the local community actively engage in the delivery of a comprehensive curriculum by volunteering their time and enriching the overall experience for the young children, from reading books, to baking, bringing pets to hairdressing and building, as well as the emergency services including the gardaí, ambulance and fire service, all creating memorable moments for the children.
Opportunities are also created for parents to socialize, for example, at the annual Christmas evening, graduation ceremonies, coffee mornings as well as volunteering to go on outings such as to the train station, Millstreet Polytunnel and Pollinator Park and Kennedy’s Pet Farm.
But there’s more: courses are often provided in the centre, making it more accessible for staff and parents as well as staff members from other crèches in the surrounding areas if interested. Courses to date include first aid, manual handling, child protection awareness, fire safety procedures, creative sustainability, Lámh and behaviour man- agement with special needs and defibrillator training planned for the near future.
BCC also works closely with other bodies such as the HSE, Pobal, Tus- la, Cork County Childcare Committee, IRD, Early Childhood Ireland, QQI, FÁS, Buttevant Area Childcare Project (BACP) and St Joseph’s Foundation.
Team members are also supported to engage in further education provided locally through Skillsnet in IRD Duhallow with 4 staff starting Level 7 and 2 staff starting level 9 in September 2023.
The centre also uses an environmentally friendly heating system, using an air-to-water heat pump system to heat the building and also have grant approval now to install solar PV system, EV charging unit, additional insulation and other energy improving measures.
Banteer, Lyre, Nadd & Districts Community Council
The Community Council is a locally elected community council with elections every 3 years with the most recent election held in May 2023.
Actively discuss on-going issues in the community and action any items as required. For example:
> Responsible for kick starting the major Ballymaquirke junction up-grade with a public meeting in 2018
> Worked with Vodafone since 2013 to deliver in 2022 an improved mobile phone and broadband service to the local community with a Mast erected at Banteer Sportsfield
> Installed and maintains defibrillators in Banteer, Lyre and Nadd
> Worked on the installation of much needed speed ramps in the community in Banteer/Lyre
> Collaborate with local voluntary groups on various community projects and updated amenity and recreation plans for the area
> Regularly liaise with IRD Duhallow, TDs, County Councillors and other statutory bodiesWorking on ensuring local road, footpaths and lighting improve- ments are progressed
Progress the installations of social alarms for people in Banteer/ Lyre and Nadd areasSubmissions to Cork County Council Development plans > Operate the text alert system for the area
> Housing Policy locally
> e-Fibre system to village in 2015
Banteer Tidy Towns
Banteer Tidy Towns has been very active since 2001 and has a core group of 20 volunteers, including a Ukrainian lady who joined when she and her family came to live in the village in 2022.
Our year begins on Good Friday with a major litter pick of the village and approach roads, with assistance from Youth Club members, secondary and national school children. We also get help, when required, from Banteer GAA, Banteer Soccer, Banteer Macra and Mount Hillary AC Running Club.
The group meets two evenings a week from April to September and the work entails planting of shrub beds, flower beds, boxes and pots, hanging baskets on the Church grounds and the Glen Theatre, litter picking, weeding and general cleaning and brushing. They plant biodiversity friendly shrubs & flowers to help the bees, butterflies, etc and also have ‘No Mow’ areas to help biodiversity.
Last February, Banteer National School children assisted in the planting of some native trees and currant bushes, e.g., Birch, Rowan, and Apple Trees etc. on the high ground overlooking the astroturf pitch in the Sportsfield.
Each year the group selects a new project to carry out along with the usual work & this year a memorial was erected in St. Fursey’s Cemetery, in memory of all the un-baptised babies, famine victims & others who never got a Christian burial.
After each evenings work, they wind up activities with a cup of tea/ coffee and a chat.
This year, the group set up a GoFundMe page & we would like to acknowledge the generosity of all those who contributed to it.
The group are very grateful for the financial support of Cork County Council through the Contract Grant Scheme, IRD Duhallow, local businesses who sponsor us year after year and others who help with
their time and labour in getting projects completed.
Other groups/services available in village:
– GAA club
– Camogie club
– Ladies football club
– Juvenile and adult soccer club
– Juvenile athletic club
– Adult athletic club
– Senior/Weds club –weekly meeting /outings etc
– Active Tidy Towns Group
– Text alert system
– IRD daily meals service to elderly and to Banteer Childcare – Drama group
– Chess club formed in 2022
– Active youth club and Gaisce awards programme
– Community Defibrillators in various locations
– Mount Hillary Forest Walks and Glamping area
– Various facilities such as Sundays Well (old mass rock area) – Banteer Macra group
– Banteer Ploughing association
– Mothers and others club
– Banteer Gymkhana club
– Online graves record system for Clonmeen Old Graveyard
– Catholic Church in centre of village
– Buddhist/Meditation centre near railway station
– IRD Duhallow Skillnet training courses
Our Future Plans
– Use the success of such sports stars as Eddie Dunbar, professional cyclist, Dr. Pat O’Callaghan, etc. to promote the area further
– Community plan being updated by Council in 2023/24
– Train station new bridge and personnel lift system being installed at present to cater for increase services at the station – River walks further development at Glen river
– Energy improvements at Childcare Centre, Sportsfield/Park
– Succession planning for all groups and training for future leaders via IRD
– Develop an Active retirement centre
– Continued work on Biodiversity, Environmental and Energy developments
– Further development of Digital museum system
– Other services such as online training centre at the Hub
– Application made to Community Services Programme for community staffing support
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