HISTORY
In the early 1980’s, the Greater Coolock Area struggled with high unemployment, poor training and small business opportunities and the profoundly sad impact of the appalling Stardust tragedy of 1981. To address these serious problems, residents and activists formed several community organisations. In June 1987, following public meetings and consultations, Bonnybrook Enterprise Action Group (BEAG) was founded.
OVERVIEW
Bonnybrook Enterprise Action Group (BEAG) commenced operations immediately in a small prefab on the grounds of St. John Vianni Boys National School on Bunratty Drive and after a few years of fundraising, and research with the Coolock communities, BEAG was incorporated as Coolock Development Council (CDC).
In the late 1980’s, negotiations soon began for the transfer of the whole St. John Vianni campus at Bunratty/Adare to BEAG/CDC. The mission of Coolock Development Council from the start was to provide space, encouragement and support for local small business start-ups and for local community bodies and Not for Profit organisations working for the greater Coolock area. Coolock Development Council engaged with and was inspired by community enterprise projects in other parts of Dublin and throughout Ireland including the Ardoyne parish, in Belfast.
The board assisted CDC to fulfil its founding mission aims especially in areas like further education and training and employment opportunities for the local community. Since 1987, over 40 volunteers have served as directors of CDC, including local residents and enterprise occupants’, senior executives from local Industrial Estates, and representatives of agencies and Not for Profits based in the greater Coolock, area.
The early focus of CDC board was the urgently necessary refurbishment and repurposing of the old St John Vianni National School and School Hall at Bunratty Drive into an enterprise and community hub for the population of the greater Coolock area (originally the seven parishes of Bonnybrook, Kilmore, Priorswood, Darndale, Coolock Village, Artane and Beaumont). Over the years this remit extended to most of the old Dublin Northeast and now Dublin Bay North Dail constituencies. Space was provided for start-up local businesses (including childcare facilities) and for regional and national agencies including St. Michael’s House, the HSE and Northside Partnership. In addition, large Community Employment, Community Services programme and Jobs Initiative employee training schemes were created and administered by Coolock Development Council to support its own programmes and to assist other community and sports clubs’ projects all over Dublin.
To address longstanding issues of anti-social behaviour impacting on the campus, Coolock Development Council founded and incorporated a security training company, Northside Security Services (NSS), which continues to protect the campus and other community and small business premises in greater Coolock area. By the late 1990’s, CDC ran short of space for all its projects and following extensive local consultations, the board of directors fundraised to construct a dedicated new Enterprise Centre now called Block C.
The management of CDC strongly supported the campaigns for the location and building of dedicated centres for the St. Michael’s House organisation, Doras Bui Centre and Dublin City Council’s Northside Civic Offices on or directly adjacent to the campus. Services for the young people and the elderly were later added to the site and of course the local radio station, NEAR FM.
In 2025 as the company approaches its 40th anniversary, the mission of Coolock Development Council is to build and develop on its past achievements in close consultation with residents, community bodies, Not for Profits and local businesses in the greater Coolock area. The aim of Coolock Development Council remains to provide space and supports for small business start-ups and community organisations while embarking on a further major refurbishment of all the facilities at the campus. The former St. John Vianni school buildings are now over 60 years old, and the current volunteer board of directors are anxious to greatly modernise those facilities and ensure the maximum utilisation of our whole campus for the people of the Greater Coolock Area and Dublin Bay North.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Coolock Development Council and Northside Security Services are located on campus. These organisations are governed by a voluntary board of management.
CONTACT INFORMATION
For more information please call us on 01 8675200 Coolock Development Council, Block C, Bunratty Drive, Dublin 17