About
SERVING THE COMMUNITY FOR OVER 50 YEARS
Crosshaven Carrigaline Credit Union is a local, not for profit co-operative, owned and controlled by its members. It exists to provide vital financial services to enhance the quality of life for all its members.
The Credit Union Mission Statement
The Mission of the Credit Union is to promote the financial well being of its members. To achieve this purpose the Credit Union is committed to providing a broad range of innovative financial products supported by the excellent service of a dedicated, well-trained staff. These programs will be administered in accordance with sound management practices to maintain the financial strength of the Credit union.
The Board of Directors, Management and Staff of the Credit Union hereby affirm that the efforts of the Credit Union will be consistently and professionally dedicated to the accomplishment of this mission.
A brief history of our credit union (1968 to 2018)
In 2018, Crosshaven Carrigaline Credit Union celebrated its 50th Year Serving the Community.
It all began in Crosshaven on the 5th February 1968. Prominent members of the Crosshaven Development Organisation, Michael Lucey, Jack O’Leary and the two Commander Swineys, were responsible for calling a meeting at Kennefick’s Hotel, (now Cronin's), to discuss the possibility of founding a Credit Union.
Eleven directors and three supervisors were elected and Crosshaven Credit Union was formally inaugurated at the first Board meeting. The following September Oliver Cuddihy, the driving force of those early days, was elected Chairman, Fr. Lucey Vice Chairman, Liam Gilligan Treasurer and D. O Murchadha, secretary. At the first meeting, it was agreed to offer 10s (50p) weekly rent to Jim Kidney for the use of the old butcher’s shop in the centre of the village. This was accepted and straight away a renovation team, headed by the late Michael Twomey and David Desmond, both experienced builders, started work. The new premises opened for business on 4th October 1968.
And so began the long saga of growth and expansion. By Christmas, the premises were no longer large enough. The first AGM was held in February 1969 and was attended by 44 of the 150 members. In May, after the Credit Union has been in operation for just eight months, Chairman Oliver Cuddihy spoke of the need for extending to Carrigaline and the following November, a special general meeting voted for a new common bond, namely ‘The R.C. parishes of Carrigaline, Crosshaven and Tracton’.
Initially, the Carrigaline branch used a corner of the Parish Hall, which was freezing in winter and sweltering in the summer. In the mid-seventies it was decided to build new Carrigaline offices. The original building was opened in July 1977. In the 1990’s it was obvious that a new larger building was required and the current modern replacement on the same site opened in 1995.
In Crosshaven the acquisition of new premises became a priority. The ground floor of a house belonging to O’Mahony Bros beside their garage premises on Point Road was leased and refurbishment commenced immediately. By November the Credit Union head office had been established. However, by the late 90’s it was obvious that a new purpose-built premises were needed. When the building next door came up for sale, the Credit Union bought it, knocked it to the ground and built a new specially designed office premises, which was opened in August 2001.
Over the last five decades, Crosshaven-Carrigaline Credit Union has firmly established itself at the heart of the community. The sound financial position of the Credit Union and trust placed in it by the people of Crosshaven and Carrigaline is a tribute to the unremitting labours of the directors, officials and voluntary workers, dedicated to the wellbeing and financial betterment of their neighbours.
Long may it continue.
The Credit Union Story
The modern Credit Union movement traces its origins to Germany and to Friedrich Willhelm Raiffeisen, the Mayor of a small town in southern Germany, who in 1849 formed societies, which later evolved into Credit Unions. The purposes of these Credit Unions was to enable people to help themselves in relieving debt and poverty.
A Credit Union is a democratic, financial co-operative owned and controlled by its own members. Each Credit Union is run only to benefit its members, all of whom have something in common - the common bond.
The Credit Union movement was introduced into Ireland in 1958 by Nora Herilhy with the support of a number of other dedicated pioneers.
Since then, the Credit Union philosophy of mutual self-help has proved very popular, and as of April 2017, there are over 389 Credit Unions affiliated to the Irish League of Credit Unions throughout the country.
In Ireland over 3.6 million members have recognized the value of credit unions, and have savings approaching several billion euro with their credit unions. There are thousands employed in the sector and many more thousands are volunteers involved in the movement.
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