The Commons

You have arrived at The Commons blog – a place to share the journey

Click on the link below to check out what is happening this month at The Commons.

JANUARY 2026

  • Changes and celebrations

    The last 6 weeks or so have seen lots of activity in The Commons. At the end of September we had our last push at clearing out the building, in October the builders arrived and we also set our feet dancing to celebrate the beginning of the next part of the vision for The Commons.

    Clear out day involved skips and wheelbarrows and a lot of muscle power from a team of volunteers who represented some of the different groups who call The Commons ‘home’. I took photos to use for before and after references, and saw rooms I hadn’t even seen before. Looking at the building from outside is a deceptive perspective because inside the spaces just keep going. So much potential for all that lies ahead.

    In mid October the builders arrived! Now the building wears a new overcoat of safety fences and safety signs. At each turn of your eye you can see evidence of activity – high vis jackets, hard hats, mugs, architects’ plans, ladders, and even heavy plant equipment spending its weekends in what used to be the kitchen. There has been a lot of tearing down, but in a wonderful way that reveals even more of the beauty of this building – long hidden windows, vaulted ceilings, rich timber and brick face. In this very short space of time, not only is there stripping back, there is also building up and creating new things. Little glimmers of what is to come in the next part of this building’s life on the Ormeau Road.

    One of the very special things about this project is that the building is still being used every day. We haven’t closed the doors until the project is done. They are flung wide and welcoming to so many who make up the community in this area. Since the summer a homework club has been launched, peace vigils have taken place on the front steps, the TukTuk has taken up residence on a Monday and Friday, and Jane has started improv sessions – this is alongside the already well established regular activities. Check out this month’s calendar via the link at the top of this page and keep an eye on our Instagram page for any updates.

    You’ll remember that back in April we launched the vision of The Commons before the work had even started. It’s a bit of a back to front approach – most projects have a big party to announce things when all the work has been done. So in true Commons style, we celebrated the arrival of the builders and the beginning of the work with a ceili in what will eventually be The Ceili House. Lots of you came from different groups who use The Commons already – it was such a fun (and exhausting) night of music, laughter and dancing.

  • Launch Day

    Launch Day

    Were you there? Sunday 27th April 2025? It seemed like the world was there and we were so happy for that. It’s hard to pinpoint highlights as there were so many of them. It didn’t really rain – that was a highlight.

    As the gazebos went up early on the morning and the Tiny Tea Tuk Tuk was manoeuvred expertly into position, passersby began to show an interest and invitations were called out to them from our happy team of volunteers.

    Tiny Tea Tuk Tuk

    Word of mouth, invites to neighbours, strangers and friends and great social media presence. All these things led to more than 500 local people wending their way through the gates and into The Commons.

    A warm welcome from Mia and Katy

    The Sri Lankan street rolls were hugely popular and Jill and the team served them with a smile despite the frustrations of a blown fuse in the brand new coffee machine. Now that the fuse is fixed, you can find them serving drinks and rolls on a Friday from the boldly blue tuk tuk at the front of the building (check socials before you call down).

    Jill and Tally at the TukTuk with the famous Sri Lankan street rolls.

    Young and old alike were able to sit down and enjoy a game of chess or snakes and ladders and new friendships were formed across those chequered boards.

    A zoo of painted faces emerged squealing with delight from the kids area and the roving magician impressed anyone who had a minute with his slight of hand.

    How did he do that?

    Our friends from the Sew-cial Circle were there along with Source Grow and the Knockbreda Community and Wildlife garden. Did you plant a sunflower that day? How big is it now?

    The Sew-cial Circle’s projects

    The Ormeau Community Ukes, The Ormeau Community Choir, John Waterworth, Daniel McGouran, Karen Teeney and Ellen Weir all provided top class musical performances that created such a wonderful backdrop to the whole event which spilled out onto the street.

    Ormeau Community Choir
    Karen Teeney and Ellen Weir
    Daniel McGouran

    Inside the building, volunteers shared the story and vision of The Commons with enthusiasm. Many visitors told us stories of getting married in the building or attending the church as children and young people and they were delighted to have a peek inside and have lots of memories come flooding back.

    One of the most exciting parts of the day was the Suggestions Box. So many creative ideas were dropped in and they have all been safely kept. Watch this space because your idea may come to life some day.

    We certainly felt that the vision of The Commons began to come to life on Launch Day. And that’s because so many of you, our friends and neighbours from the local community, came to catch that vision and become part of it.

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