New Facility Will be Used by Over 40 Community Youth and Adult Groups and Will be Run by K-Leisure
Tuesday 15th May 2018
A brand new purpose built community centre was officially opened and formally handed over to Kildare Council by the Queally family in a special ceremony today in the new facility. The new community centre which was opened by the Mayor of Naas Councillor Rob Power will be used by over 40 different community youth and adult organisations from the area and it will be managed and operated for the county council by the locally based K-Leisure.
The Queally family have a long relationship with the town and surrounding hinterland having first arrived in 1980 when their first cold store operation started on a 40 acre greenfield site on the outskirts of Naas town with the first 20 employees starting work there that same year. Indeed brothers Peter and John Queally fondly remember the fact that the town was a lot smaller back then and the current site of the new community centre and their various enterprises was countryside and green fields. Today the group employs 1,400 people with an overall economic contribution estimated at over €50m annually in the local Naas and wider Kildare economy .
From Co Waterford Peter and John Queally have grown what is now the largest privately owned agri-food group in Ireland from this original green field site outside Naas. Today there are six companies onsite – Dawn Farm Foods, Dawn Farms Distribution, Irish Dog Foods, The Culinary Food Group, QK Meats and QK Cold Stores. Since 1981 the wider Group in Ireland and overseas has grown and employs another 4,600 globally with products reaching over 80 countries. The Queally family and the business are now deeply embedded in Naas, committed to the local community and actively support many of their staff who volunteer in local clubs, charities and associations. (Note 1) ;
Speaking on behalf of the Queally family Liam Queally who is the Managing Director of Irish Dog Foods said “Co Kildare and especially Naas has meant so much to my family in so many ways since my father and uncle arrived here nearly 40 years ago. From very humble beginnings back in 1980 Peter and John had a vision of something very special when there was just cattle grazing here. Starting out with their first 20 employees from this area they have created an amazing sustainable Irish industry competing with the best all around the World and today are proud to employ 1,400 people in Naas and contribute over €50m to the economy in this local area.
“Peter and John have always instilled in us, the next generation of our family who are based in Kildare now, the principle of always giving back and supporting the community around us as well as our great employees. They are here with us today in this fantastic new community centre and I know they are proud, as is the rest of our family, of our long and very close relationship with Co Kildare and the town of Naas which has been really cemented as all their grandchildren are now supporting the jerseys of both Kildare and Waterford”.
Mr. Queally concluded by offering his best wishes to K Leisure in managing the Centre and his hope that the various associations , charities and clubs who do such great voluntary work can thrive and grow in this new facility.
