A PHOTO BOOKLET documenting thirty years of the West Clare Resource Centre in Miltown Malbay has been launched.
CEO of the Clare and Limerick LCETB, Bernadette Cullen officially launched the publication and presented a copy to the County Librarian Helen Walsh.
An archive of photos from 1993 to 2025 is included in the booklet which was launched at the end of October. In December 2022, a booklet titled ‘Story of Tech 1993-2023’ was released.
Services on site at the West Clare Resource Centre now include the Dr. Patrick J. Hillery Public Library, the further education and training college, HSE health services such as the health centre and dental clinic, Spraoí Childcare Centre and Páirc Laichtin Garden.
Thousands of young people from the locality were educated at the Miltown Malbay Vocational School from its opening in 1939 to its closure in 1985. The building had fallen into disrepair but was resuscitated thanks to the vision and foresight of then councillor and local teacher Christy Curtin (IND) and the late Michael McMahon.
Their efforts combined with the support of then Adult Education Officer of Co Clare VEC, Dr Seán Conlan and CEO of the VEC, Jim Lyons led to the refurbishment of the building in the early 1990s and its opening as a resource centre in 1992. The Clare VEC’s vocational training opportunities’ scheme opened in 1993 with the Youth Reach programme added in 1996. The Mid-Western Health Board opened a dental clinic at the centre in March 1995.
April 1995 saw Clare County Council open its modern multi-purpose library on site which has since been renamed after former President, Patrick Hillery. A community creche was established on site and opened in 2008. The campus is now part of the College of Further Education and Training.
