KYLE FORGE HERITAGE CENTRE

History was in the making on Sunday evening last when the Kyle Forge Heritage Centre was officially opened. The ceremony was performed by Rev. Fr. Jim Finn, PP ( who introduced story-telling sessions to the County and opened the first house at Ar mbreaca in Ballyduff ) and enthusiasts of story-telling houses from around Wexford and indeed Carlow, Kildare, Wicklow as well as locals were in attendance for this great occasion, which was made all the more enjoyable by the lovely balmy summer weather. Chairman Robert Lambert addressed the attendance and welcomed everyone. In his speech he told the story of how the Forge became a reality. Grateful thanks were extended to Robert Harvey and his family for donating the site of the old Forge to the Parish and some extra land as well for car-parking. When a few interested people first went to the Forge it was a sorry site indeed with grass and briars and weeds totally covering the remains of the building. Alas, for safety reasons, it had to be pulled down and re-built. However with lots of hard work and committment from the present Committe as well as loads of volunteers giving a hand , we now have a building to be proud of in this parish. Fr. Finn said it was a privilege to open the building and he complimented the Committee for their foresight in converting a derelict site into a building that will serve future generations. Robert Harvey too, was delighted with the finished product and said it was a great source of satisfaction to him to see this small piece of property now transformed into an attractive place for people locally and indeed further afield to come and enjoy. Grateful thanks were extended to numerous people both locally and further afield for their support - monetary or otherwise in the setting up of this venture, to those who attended and helped out with the Dog-racing Night and Fashion Show, the various Pubs and Hotels who gave their premises for fund-raising activities; the Credit Union and W.O.R.D, Business people who gave professional advice and their time for free. The Chairman said that it was his fervant hope that the building would be used to keep music and the art of story-telling alive, and to take what is good from the part in our culture and heritage and bring it into the future and save it from being swallowed up by Globilisation.

THE FORGE