Ballylooby.

Once upon a time, this was a thriving little village in the heart of the Golden Vale of Tipperary.

We had a creamery, a post office (run by Mary Joe), two shops, each with their own petrol pumps. And three pubs.

These were all places where people could meet, where friends bumped into each other.

Stories were shared, news was exchanged, friendships were kept up. You could go to the village, and be sure of a conversation.

In hundreds of villages across Ireland, these meeting places fostered the caring and friendly qualities everyone associates with the Irish people.

But it seems that time and progress have stolen away a lot of what made us who we are. Today in Ballylooby and in lots of villages, none of these amenities exist anymore.

We still have our church. Our hall. And, thankfully, our primary school.

But without somewhere to meet, to get the Sunday paper, somewhere to sit down with a cup of tea or a pint and have a bit of craic, Ballylooby has been losing its heart.

It’s a lonely time for a lot of people. Not just for the elderly, but also for mothers of small children. For farmers, after long days in the field. For teenagers with nowhere to meet up. It’s as though the soul has gone out of the community.

Well now, we decided that enough is enough. We would take matters into our hands.

When the village’s oldest pub, Chrissie Sheehy’s, came up for sale, we put the word out. Although it had closed years ago we could reopen it, as a community centre as well as a pub.

A hundred willing people joined the effort. And together, incredibly, we raised the price of it, bought it, and paid for it. At the first participants’ meeting, we decided there was only one possible name for it: Chrissie’s.

For those of us who remember, Chrissie’s wasn’t just a pub and shop. It was the heart of Ballylooby. For us the name Chrissie’s conjures up the owner’s personality, a wonderful, trusting woman who had seen it all, heard it all, and had a welcome for everyone. There was a warmth about the place. Chrissie’s felt like home.

Now – well – it’s derelict. It’ll need extensive renovation. But with that, it can also be reinvented.

We want to create a place where the community can come together again, in a way that suits our time.

A café. A community shop. A pub. A camper stop. Remote working offices. And outdoor recreational spaces for the family to enjoy. It will be a beautiful, welcoming little spot by the river.

A place for neighbours to meet, for families to gather in celebration, and for visitors to have a bit of a rest. This, too, is where the next generation can make memories of their own.

We’ve already held our first fundraiser, which itself was a fun day for families. Thanks to the community and local businesses, it was a big success. But it’s only a start.

And this is where you come in, if you’re willing. Every contribution — no matter how small — will bring this vision a little bit closer to reality.

All over Ireland, villages are dying. Rural loneliness is rampant. People are hungry for community in the old style.

Won’t you be part of Chrissie’s rebirth and help us make Ballylooby a welcoming place once more?