Askea Community Childcare Centre

The Askea Community Childcare Centre is located on the Brownshill Road in Askea.
Manager:Anne Burke.
Phone and fax 059 9135 206

Humble beginning for ‘dream’ centre - By Margaret O’Rourke

ASKEA COMMUNITY Childcare Centre has grown from its humble beginnings of two rooms in an old storehouse to a state of the art building. The transition took many years and a massive voluntary effort to achieve but the dream building was completed last month and the occasion was marked by an official opening of a substantial extension and a fairy tale playground.

The centre with a staff of 26 caters for 215 children and there is a long waiting list. New challenges have had to be met with the diversity of children attending and in total 17 nationalities are represented.

At the opening Fr. Tom Little, chairman of the Board of Management, referred to the centre’s humble beginnings and marvelled at what had been accomplished over the years. He had particular praise for the staff for their care and commitment to the children.

Performing the official opening was Deputy John McGuinness who was introduced by Bernie Greene, chairperson of the management committee. Deputy McGuinness stressed the vital role played by the Askea Centre in enabling parents to return to work or access education.

Having been involved in the project he was proud to be asked to perform the opening of the new extension and was even more impressed by the unwavering commitment of all those involved.

Carlow’s new deputy, Pat Deering, was equally enthusiastic, praising the range and wealth of services provided at the centre.

On their tour of the building which was opened in 2004 the group saw the baby room, the wobbler room (for one to two year olds), the toddler room (for two to three year olds) a senior crèche room (for three to five year olds), an afterschool room, playgroup rooms, breakfast room, office, kitchens and bathrooms.

Claire McDonald was a driving force behind Askea Community Childcare Centre and saw the need for such a facility in the rapidly expanding Tullow Road area in the mid 1980s.

The first playgroup which was in cramped accommodation was run by Sr. Cepta of the Presentation Convent together with a rota of parents and grandparents such as Nell Farrell and Marie Kavanagh.

Anne Burke is now the manager of the centre having joined the staff in 1987. In 2001 the playgroup was invited to prepare a proposal for development to the Katherine Howard Foundation and the SE Health Board. The application was successful and received funding of €45,000 plus training over a three year period leading to two playgroups running five mornings and five evenings a week.

Two staff members were added and the demand for places in the playgroup kept on growing.

At about this time funding was being provided by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform to support parents wishing to return to workforce or access further education. Marie Kavanagh and Anne Burke applied for this supported by the then parish priest of Askea, Fr. John Fitzpatrick.

According to Anne ‘ a baffling amount’ of application forms had to be completed and then began the long, nervous wait for a reply.

When it came ‘we were scared to death’, said Anne. They had been granted €495,736 and Fr. Fitzpatrick announced the good news from the altar. However he was transferred before the work on the new building began.

In June 2010 work began on the play area with Olivia Redmond unleashing her artistic talents with breathtaking results.

The building was turned around with a new entrance to the rear, a large upstairs room which was divided into three new rooms, a new sleep room for the babies and a new storeroom. The office, reception area and the new lift also became a reality.

MARGARET O’ROURKE
Tuesday July 19 2011