Allihies Parish Cooperative Society
COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
- Chairman - John L O'Sullivan
- Vice Chairman - Tadhg O'Sullivan
- Treasurer - Margaret Lowney
- Assistant Treasurer - Veronica O'Sullivan
- Secretary - Anne McNally
- Assistant Secretary - Karin Grace
- PRO - Marie O'Shea
- PRO - Donal O'Sullivan
BACKGROUND
Early in 1993 a group of people met at a public meeting in Allihies to discuss
the state of a key historic mine building known as the North Engine in the
site of the old Copper Mines which was and is in a dangerous state and is
need of repair. It was recognised that a greater degree of local organisation
would be required of help and funding was to be sought for this project. Subsequently
at a public meeting in Allihies in March 1993 it was decided to set up a Parish
Cooperative which would become an effective vehicle through which the people
of the Parish could pool their resources. So what started on a single issue
broadened to look into all aspects of Community development.
The main aim of the Cooperative is to halt the decline of this small community by exploring all the possibilities for creating employment and an atmosphere of enterprise, so that the young people growing up now might see a future for themselves in Allihies.
To date the Cooperative has been engaged in various initiatives to further
these aims such as the establishment of a tourist information office, various
FAS backed local amenity improvement schemes and developing and implementing
summer youth activity programmes. The question of mining
heritage remains foremost on the Cooperatives agenda. Work is in progress
towards the conservation of existing mine building.
More about the preservation of the Man Engine...
ALLIHIES MINE MUSEUM
A major project that the Co-op has been working on is the preservation of
the areas rich mining history in a Mine Museum. With that in mind the Co-op
acquired the old Protestant church at the western end of Allihies village.
The church was built in 1845 to serve the Cornish miners who came over to
work in the mines. It is an ideal location to house the proposed museum.
The museum will present the story of Copper mining in Allihies in a clear and exiting way. It is not intended to be too high tech but through high quality graphics, photographs, illustrations, models etc., together with artifacts, documents etc. of the period, it is hoped to bring to life the Allihies mining story so that the visitor can experience something of the intensity of mining life in the 19th century where high engineering went hand in hand with the harsh, brutal, realities of the individual miners life. More information on Allihies copper mine history here...
There has been major local fundraising events over the past few years and
proposals have been sent to different Government body's, applying for grant
aid for this worthwhile project.
We have been successful in securing £70,000 from the Millennium Committee. It will help us to start with phase 1 of the building very shortly, which consists of roofing and renovating the old ruin to house the museum. Hopefully in due course we will be able to raise enough money to continue with phase 2 of our project, which will see a new addition onto the old building to accommodate a reception/office, a small gallery and a coffee shop.
Member of the Friendly Society of Ireland membership No. 234235
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