Randalstown ARCHES celebrates 30 years of community spirit and secures major National Lottery grant

Randalstown ARCHES Association Directors at the 30th Anniversary Gala Dinner with presentation cheque. (L-R) William Allen (Treasurer); Martin Hackett; Liam Hurrel; Eileen Ingram (Secretary); Peter Boyle (Chairman); Leanne Murray; Eugene McKeever; Anne Delaney; Pete Burbidge; and Suzanne Lawrence.

Randalstown ARCHES Association has celebrated three decades of community achievement with a glittering Gala Dinner and announced a significant £46,727 grant from The National Lottery Community Fund to support vital upgrades to its community hub.

Randalstown ARCHES Association marked its 30th Anniversary in style on Friday, 17th October 2025, with a Gala Dinner at the Dunsilly Hotel, Antrim, bringing together supporters, volunteers, partners, and friends — past and present — to celebrate three decades of community achievement, collaboration, and local pride.

The milestone celebration came as the Association also announced it had been awarded £46,727 from The National Lottery Community Fund to carry out essential roof repairs and sustainability upgrades to its community hub, Arches House, in Randalstown.

A Celebration of Community Spirit and Achievement

Guests enjoyed an evening of fine dining, entertainment, and heartfelt reflection as ARCHES looked back on its journey from a small group of local volunteers in 1995 to the thriving organisation it is today.

Chairperson Peter Boyle reflected on the Association’s impact, saying:

“ARCHES has always been about people: about harnessing the energy, skills, and goodwill of this community to make Randalstown a better place for everyone.

“From the early days of lighting the viaduct and transforming derelict spaces, to today’s packed calendar of events, classes, and initiatives — our success is built on collaboration, compassion, and community pride.”

Over the past 30 years, ARCHES has:

• Trained over 10,000 people in more than 40 subjects, including 700 students in British Sign Language.

• Delivered 111 editions of Arches Outlook to every home in Randalstown.

• Hosted the annual Arches Festival, now featuring around 25 events and welcoming 12,000 visitors, supported by over 140 volunteers.

• Invested over £5.9 million in the local area through grants, donations, and partnerships.

Honouring the Legacy of George Graham

A deeply moving highlight of the evening saw the Association pay tribute to the late George Graham, former Chair, whose dedication helped shape ARCHES’ success.

Announcing a permanent tribute, Eileen Ingram revealed that the organisation’s community hall has been officially renamed:

“From this evening forward, it will be known as the George Graham Community Hall,” she said.

“To mark this occasion, we have prepared a Certificate of Dedication, which we are deeply honoured to present to Sharon Graham and family, in recognition of George’s outstanding contribution and lasting legacy within our community.”

National Lottery Grant to Secure ARCHES’ Future

In his Gala address, Peter Boyle also shared the welcome news of a £46,727 grant from The National Lottery Community Fund, which will fund roof repairs and sustainability improvements at Arches House — ensuring the building remains eco-friendly, efficient, and fit for purpose for years to come.

Speaking about the award, Peter said:

“We are thrilled to receive this funding from The National Lottery Community Fund. Arches House is at the heart of our work in Randalstown, and these essential improvements will help safeguard the building for future generations.

“We’re grateful to National Lottery players for making this possible and for supporting projects that strengthen communities like ours.”

Treasurer William Allen added:

“This grant will make a real difference. A sound, energy-efficient building means we can keep delivering activities and support that benefit local people, while also taking practical steps towards a greener, more sustainable Randalstown.”

The funding will support roof replacement and refurbishment, improve energy efficiency, and incorporate eco-friendly materials to reduce long-term running costs.

Peter said the grant comes at a fitting time:

“As we mark three decades of empowering our community, this investment will help us continue to grow with a strong focus on sustainability and accessibility.”

ARCHES extended appreciation to The National Lottery Community Fund and National Lottery players for their continued support:

“Your contributions make projects like this possible,” the group stated.

Supporting Charitable Causes and Local Partnerships

In keeping with ARCHES’ ethos of compassion and community care, the Gala Dinner also raised funds for two local charities — Marie Curie and Charis Cancer Care — both chosen for their personal significance to the team and to the late George Graham.

Operations Manager Hannah Moloney said:

“As we celebrate 30 years of ARCHES, we’re also using tonight as an opportunity to support two wonderful causes.

“Having fought my own battle over the past few years with womb cancer, the Board of Directors kindly allowed me to choose Charis Cancer Care as one of those causes. They were a huge support to me personally, and I’m delighted they can be part of our celebration this evening, and in loving memory of our colleague and dear friend - George Graham, we have also chosen to support Marie Curie Cancer Care, a charity he championed for many years.”

A raffle on the night raised over £900 for the charities, with more funds to come from Gala proceeds and Randalstown Community Calendar sales.

Representatives Mark Shields (Marie Curie) and Claire Hogarth (Charis Cancer Care) expressed gratitude for the ongoing generosity of local residents.

Gratitude and Celebration

Peter Boyle extended thanks to Principal Sponsor One2One, McKeever Hotels for the champagne reception, and Dinner Partners including Nimbus, John Mulholland Motor Group, DC Corr Chartered Accountants, Randalstown Pharmacy, Kearney’s, and Ballymena Causeway Credit Union.

Bouquets were presented to Eileen Ingram, Niki Moloney, Sinéad Morren, Peggy Mulholland, and Hannah Moloney for their tireless efforts in organising the event.

The evening concluded with music and dancing, bringing a joyful close to a night that celebrated 30 years of community connection, commitment, and care — and looked ahead to a sustainable future for Randalstown ARCHES Association.