St. Agnes' Credit Union

Sean Forde called a promotion meeting to form the study group which would set up the Credit Union, at 30 St.Agnes Park in October 1960. This was the home of Tobias Butler one of the nine who attended and in the beginning his house was used for meetings of the Credit Union. In the early years most of the work was done by volunteers and St.Agnes’ grew steadily. The “Old School” was used for Friday night business and for Annual General and other meetings courtesy of the local clergy. Such was the demand for loans in these early days, that a local bank had to be approached for an overdraft to service the need. The bank required collateral and three of the original Board members lodged the deeds of their houses with the bank. “Their likes will not be with us again”. In 1965 a premises at 69 St.Agnes’ Park was purchased and this became the first permanent residence. The Sisters of Charity hall was used for general meetings until the completion of the Community Hall.

Membership and savings grew steadily and by the mid seventies it was clear that new and larger premises were needed. In 1974 the Parish agreed to lease the present site on St Agnes’ Road to the Credit Union and new purpose built offices were opened in 1975. These premises were extended in 1992.

Continuing growth demanded increased space, so extension and renovation was embarked upon once more in 1998, bringing the premises to its present size.

A Board of Directors of eleven decides on policy and guides the Credit Union together with a Supervisory Committee of three. These fourteen dedicated people form the voluntary element of today’s St Agnes’.

In October 1960, savings in St Agnes’ amounted to £1 and there were 9 members. Today there are over €40 million of savings & over 10,000 members.