Fiesta Ballroom -people, place,partnership

The Fiesta Hall has been a landmark in Kilcormac, County Offaly, for more than sixty years. Built in 1961 by local businessman Paddy McCormack, the Art Deco-style building served generations as a cinema, dance hall, theatre, courthouse, bingo hall, and community venue. For many in the town and surrounding areas, it was at the heart of social and cultural life.

Following decades of decline and the closure of Bord na Móna’s peat operations in Offaly in 2020, the building faced an uncertain future. Its purchase by Offaly Local Development Company (OLDC) marked the beginning of a major transformation, supported by the Just Transition Fund and a mortgage from the Julia V. M. Trench (Deceased)Will Trust (The Trench Trust), a philanthropic trust committed to the development of culture and heritage in the midlands of Ireland.

OLDC received funding towards works on the Fiesta Ballroom for a Green Enterprise and Climate Action Centre.

The Just Transition Fund played a central role in enabling the renovation of the Fiesta Hall as part of the wider transition to a greener and more sustainable future for the Midlands. The project has reimagined the historic building as a hub for climate action, green enterprise, education, and community development.

Extensive refurbishment works brought the building up to modern environmental standards, including the removal of asbestos, external insulation, installation of solar panels, and an air-to-air heat pump system. At the same time, key heritage features — including the distinctive façade, cinema seating, and original dance floor materials — were carefully retained and restored.

Today, the renewed Fiesta Hall provides office space, training facilities, conference and exhibition areas, and incubation space for green and circular economy enterprises. Through programmes focused on sustainability, community energy, heritage, and skills development, the Fiesta Hall stands as a powerful example of how historic buildings can be adapted to support regeneration and a just transition for local communities.