About

The Ballymote Community Centre

Established in 1994 with funds from the Department of Environment and the International Fund for Ireland, the Ballymote Community Centre is a registered charity managed by a voluntary board of Directors.

The Centre provides a wide range of community services, including shops, offices and function rooms.

Community

The Ballymote Centre, established in 1994 and nestled in the heart of an area facing economic challenges, holds a special place in our community's heart.

Brought to fruition through the Ballymote Community Project Ltd, the centre underwent significant expansion in 2010 and has since become a beacon of pride and support for our residents.

We offer diverse services, providing a space for people to connect, learn, relax, and access vital resources.

Health Suit

In partnership with the South Eastern Health Trust, our health suite offers essential outreach services, including physiotherapy, counselling, diabetics, and dietetics clinics.

Action For Children is here to guide families with young children, while the Sure Start project provides playgroup facilities.

Charity Groups

St. Vincent de Paul, a Christian organisation dedicated to fighting poverty, operates a charity shop from our centre, contributing to our mission of community betterment.

We're also home to over 25 community groups and charities, including the County Down Rural Community Network and the Flying Horse Ward Community Forum.

Local Retailers

Our shop units feature a variety of essential businesses, including Supervalu Supermarket, McGreevy's Butchers, the Ballymote Pharmacy, Pretty Please and Peking Garden Chinese takeaway.

We're proud to be a hub of support, empowerment, and unity within the Ballymote and wider Downpatrick community.

Community Funding

The Centre provides many community services, including shops and offices. More recently, the Ballymote Project has provided much-needed grants to local Primary schools and food vouchers to vulnerable people who need help in these difficult times.

The project is presently undertaking a needs survey in the area and intends to provide financial support where possible to help provide services for youths, activities for older residents, support to young mothers and their babies, and a range of other community services.

Centre History

At the heart of the community, Ballymote provides an economic and social hub to large housing areas on the southeast edge of Downpatrick, which had been built to house many hundreds of families during the 1970s and 1980s.

At that time, the area had only a small number of shops with virtually no social facilities, and residents had to travel to Downpatrick town centre for most of their needs. The development of the Ballymote Centre filled a large gap in provision with its much-needed services and was immediately taken into the hearts of the residents.

Centre Services

The ground floor is occupied by a range of shops, including a supermarket and butchers.

Co Down Rural Community Network, Clanrye, Action For Children, The Flying Horse Ward Community Forum and Newry Mourne & Down Community Advice occupy the first floor.

We also have several meeting and function rooms available for hire, regularly used by Down Special Olympics, hearing aid service, yoga classes and Irish dance.

Meet

The Ballymote Team

The Ballymote Community Project is a registered charity which is administered by a voluntary board of directors. The centre itself is staffed by the centre manager as well as daytime and evening caretakers. Meet the team!

David McCarthy

Centre Manager

Paul Kelly

Caretaker

Contact Details

Ballymote Community Centre
40 Killough Rd
Downpatrick
BT30 6PY

david@ballymote.co.uk
028 4426 0079

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