Bleary Rural Community

Bleary Farmers’ Hall was formerly Ballydougan Public Elementary School, which ceased to be a school in the early 1960s.

The School building consisted of two classrooms, boys and girls cloakrooms and a small kitchen. Toilets were located outside of the main building.

At this time the Bleary Farmers’ Union and the Bleary Young Farmers’ Club met in a Hall owned by Knocknamuckley Parish Church and located in the townland of Bleary. The officials of these two organisations agreed that it would be of benefit to both if the now closed Ballydougan School could be purchased. The Donations from local farmers and businesses raised enough money to buy the School.

Alterations to the building were necessary to make it suitable for meetings and social events. Much of the work was done by volunteers from both organisations. Money was scarce but it was a great team effort which resulted in a new community facility for the area.

Bleary Farmers’ Hall Management Committee was formed when the School was purchased in the mid 1960s’. This is a constituted group and is made up of the trustees of the Hall and representatives of Bleary Young Farmers’ Club. The Committee consider applications for use of the Hall, ensure all maintenance work is carried out, submit applications for financial support to various funding organisations and deal with all finances relating to the Hall.

Over the past four decades major renovations have been carried out, namely, kitchen and toilet block added to the back of the Hall, then a new roof, committee room and store, oil central heating installed, and more recently the extension of the car park and a new boundary fence.

The Bleary Farmers’ Hall is currently used by 10 organisations some on a weekly basis, others monthly. The Hall is the only neutral venue in the rural area of Bleary and surrounding district.