East Mayo village is a hive of activity

Kilmovee has always had a very active community with huge engagement across multiple groups and a strong emphasis on protecting and supporting older people through its Meals on Wheels and Community Alert.

The local Meals on Wheels is a service that Kilmovee Community Centre offers from Monday to Friday, and it has proven immensely popular. In fact, a new kitchen is currently under construction.

The nourishing meals are produced in the community centre's own kitchen using the best local produce and the friendly team also offers clients advice in relation to security and general life.

A cohort of the service users live in some of the most remote locations in the county and the winter period is the busiest in terms of demand.

Tommy Horan, the chairperson of Kilmovee Community Housing Ltd, said they recently received a grant of €100,000 from the Department of Rural and Community Development.

“We are using that for a complete refurbishment of the community centre,” he said. “We are putting in a new kitchen and that is the biggest part of it because the Meals on Wheels is really going well at the moment.” 

Tommy explained they prepare 160 hot meals between Monday and Friday for up to 30 clients. Extra dinners are handed out to clients on a Friday to cover the weekend.

"We cover a big area from Ballaghaderreen, Frenchpark, Loughlynn, Kilmovee, Kilkelly, Brusna, Swinford, Charlestown and Carracastle."

Tommy says his colleague Sheila Hunt played a huge role in the service in her capacity as manager of Kilmovee Community Housing Ltd and the Community Centre.

"Síle started a new job last week but she was really responsible for all of that stuff, getting grants and very involved as manager of Kilmovee Community Housing," he said. "Maura Gallagher is the manager of Meals on Wheels and the woman on the ground who cooks the meals and organises everything.” 

Other important members of the Meals on Wheels team include Sadie Woods, Mary King, Bríd Phillips, Brendan Costello, and Ana Alino who are involved in cooking and delivering the meals.

Meals on Wheels is much more than a hot dinner for their clients and the social element is vitally important, particularly in the depths of winter. Many people who avail of the service live alone and it is an opportunity for them to interact with staff who offer a friendly ear and practical and emotional support.

“There are some people who would not see people from one week to the next and they would be lonely otherwise. It’s all about getting out talking to people,” he added.

Tommy, who is also a family support worker at the Kilmovee Family Resource Centre, said some people are vulnerable and they offer support as best they can.

“It’s always a rush because you are preparing to go to the next house but what we always do is have a chat and we know then if they have any issues which we can follow up on that,” he added.

Siobhán Smith, the coordinator of the Kilmovee/Kilkelly Family Resource Centre, has a great rapport with older people and engages exceptionally well with them. Assistance with security is a big part of the support on offer. They offer pendant alarms which can be worn around the neck or around the wrist like a watch.

Local woman Ann Cruise, a member of Kilmovee/Urlaur Community Alert, works on a voluntary basis distributing the alarms to people.

Tommy says that he and his colleagues respond quickly to any concerns.

“We are a close-knit community and if anything happens we are on the ball straight away,” he added.

They recently received an energy grant from the Government to cover costs but it will not be enough, especially as a new problem has arisen.

“We are under the community services programme under Pobal and the minimum wage has gone up to €12.70,” he said. “And since we have five or six workers that is going to cost us maybe €10,000 extra next year."

Tommy said they will have to arrange several fundraisers in 2024 to try to make up the substantial shortfall. They receive an annual grant, but it does not cover their total costs.

“Most of our staff are on the Community Services Programme but some of them are on schemes such the Community Employment (CE) scheme, rural social schemes,” he added.

Tommy said there is lots of positivity in the area following the opening of the 750m Kilmovee Loop walk that offers scenic views and includes nine stationary exercise equipment machines.

The walk was funded through the Sports Capital Funding and the National Lottery and offers a safe and well-lit area for people to enjoy the amenity.

“We have planning permission got and are building 10 new social houses for older people and people with disabilities and a group home for four people for assisted living as well,” Tommy said. “Funding is being provided by the Department of the Environment. There is a lot happening in Kilmovee," he adds.