New life for church in Castleisland

SALVATION HAS come to St. Stephen's Church in Castleisland. The building, once disused and vandalised has been born again.

Now leased by a Castleisland drama group, St. Stephen's is being converted into a theatre and arts centre.

The 200 year old building was saved in January 1980 when the Island Players acquired it. They had felt it would be shameful for their community to let the building deteriorate to demolition state when it could, through their project be of immense value to Castleisland and Kerry.

Plans were prepared for a theatre building designed as to be suitable for all the performing arts, for art and craft exhibition and lectures. It was to be Kerry's first Theatre and Arts Centre.

Re-construction work started on the building in April 1980 and is scheduled for completion this June.

The building, last used for a church service 16 years ago, has undergone major face lift. However, the basic structure remains the same.

"We have tried to keep the character of the church as close as possible to what it was," said Jerome Stack, chairman of the Island Players Committee.

The converted building now consists of the main

body of the church turned into a theatre, with dressing rooms and toilets off it, an office and coffee shop, a meeting room, more toilets as well as an exhibition gallery upstairs.

Features of the church that have been retained include an upstairs balcony, a bell dating from 1776, paving stones at the entrance and down the aisle, and church seat panels.

The end result will be a first class theatre where up to 200 patrons can enjoy drama and other performing arts in comfort and a spacious exhibition centre.

The innovation shown by the Island Players has not, unfortunately, been matched by financial support from either Kerry Co. Council or the Arts Council. The former came up with €200 while €2,000 was promised by the latter, providing Kerry Co. Council gave, €2,000.