It Takes A Village: Meet the group that opened their own community hotel

Knockatallon, a small rural area at the foot of Sliabh Beagh, has a lot going for it now with its community hotel and tourism centre. That wasn’t always the case, however.

Prior to the ceasefire in 1994, Knockatallon had experienced 20 years of cratered border roads and community disruption.

“It had become a virtual cul-de-sac with one-way traffic into the area. Or, more accurately, out of the area,” says Mary Mullen, a director of Knockatallon Development Company CLG.

“We had 100 derelict houses because of people leaving to move away to either side of the border, so we needed to act to save our community.

“Following a Queen’s University study commissioned by the parish, encouragement from our priest and a lot of research, we came up with the idea of opening a hotel, as accommodation was needed.”

Apart from the beauty of Sliabh Beagh, which straddles the border, the area has many lake and hillwalking attractions.

Using funds available from Interreg, IFI and the Peace & Reconciliation Fund, the planning began.

“It took four years from our first meeting to funding being approved,” Mary says. It wasn’t a stress-free experience, however. While the total spend was €1.2m, the community had to raise €380,000 itself.

“When we opened we were using cashflow to finish off the accommodation as money had run out, so pillows were coming in the back door as guests came in the front,” says Mary. “We often looked forward to weekends too, because we’d know the bank couldn’t be ringing us then.”

WORK ONLY STARTED WHEN HOTEL OPENED

The group agree that they didn’t fully realise the scale of the task.

“Looking back, we thought that when it was built our work was over, but it only started then,” says Owen McKenna.

Determination was important in achieving their success, however.

“We knew many thought our project was ambitious and that there was a high failure rate in such projects, but we were determined to succeed,” Denis Corr adds.

‘Bouncebackability’ is also important in such a project, they told me.

“For a community group to achieve anything, they have to be able to sustain a certain level of failure. We’ve been close to that sometimes with bits of setbacks, but we rose from the ashes each time,” says Owen.

Opened in 2000, the hotel is now open seven days a week, year round, with a very busy Sunday lunch trade.

The group acknowledges that the hotel couldn’t manage without State community services involvement, however.

It runs a meals and social activity service from the hotel for 90 elderly people in the area.

“But I’d say it’s cost neutral to the government when you take into account PAYE and PRSI from those employed here,” Mary says. “And we shop local as far as possible and a good few businesses benefit from us being here too, eg taxis, so the whole area is helped.”

The hotel currently has a manager and 5.5 full-time equivalent employees, and their heavy bank loan has since been paid off.

“The recession was tough, but you can see that more people are eating out and having parties again now so business has picked up. We get great support from families both sides of the border, and do a good few weddings too,” Angela Murray says.

NEEDED A BUSINESS MINDSET

Making the jump from community project to business was a big one, however. “In the old days, if we ran a successful dance in the hall we’d have the luxury of talking about it for three weeks. When this started it was onto the next thing straight away,” says Owen.

They say they took part in every training course going and that while they didn’t have a group of highly-educated people starting off, they had a group of highly motivated people.

“That stood to us and over the years people in the group have gone back to further education and done certificates and degrees in community development,” says Mary.

Paddy Sherry is the hill walks co-ordinator.

“The four walks – of different lengths – are part of the Sliabh Beigh Way and the Ulster Way. The blanket bog in this area is one of the best in Ireland, so that’s a big advantage. We get a lot of geography students and school tours because of that.”

COULDN’T PUT A PRICE ON VOLUNTEERISM

Volunteerism is very strong in the area, in relation to the Knockatallon Group Water Scheme, as well as the community hotel.

“You couldn’t put a price on it, the amount volunteerism does for the community, keeping projects on the road for the greater good,” farmer Paddy Sherlock says. “The hotel and the water scheme have both stood the test of time.”

While Brexit is a worry, development plans are ongoing in this dynamic community, that already has a display cabinet full of rural development awards in its community hotel foyer.

Tips

“Nothing’s impossible. We thought that if we worked hard we’d get what we wanted and we did. It has to be bottom up – what the community wants rather than anyone else. Get help with form filling (grant applications).

Set up a second group to bring young people in. Let them work on their own projects. Invite those who have the skills to join the board eventually.

“It can be difficult for a new person to fit into a long-established committee so set up a separate one,” accountant Fiona Connolly says. “You’ll develop young people’s skills. It’s a good way of recruiting young people.”

The last piece of advice is to build a good relationship with the local authority – Knockatallon opened four astro pitches with LEADER funding. CL

www.knockatallon.com