Milford Community Development Association is fundraising to support its grant application to Heritage Lottery to restore the community centre. The listed building is in much need of repair and restoration works in order to restore it to community usage. Severe damp ingression (causing extensive wet rot), structural defects (both roof & some walls) and lack of maintenance has caused the building to cease as a community centre.

When built in 1860 its architecture was unique to the rest of the buildings in the village. It was the first school in Ireland to have piped heating – a spin-off from the boilers that fed the nearby linen factory.

The community need the centre restored and brought back into use for their needs - childrens events, dancing, charity fundraising, Christmas/Easter events, keep-fit classes, bowls, youth events, mother & toddler group, lectures, business meetings space. etc. Also, we want to tell the rich history of Milford in practical and interactive formats; when we restore the building, our plans would see that history brought alive for local schools with onsite visits to Milford Community Centre, coupled with visits to Milford Cutting, Milford Gate Lodge, Milford Orange Hall, Manor House, the mill race and mill-power house. Suitable ‘active’ learning and fact-finding initiatives will be combined to enrich local history. In addition, a visit to the site of the penalty kick invention would be a must for all young historians.