Hut
The Hut building is broken into 2 sections, Main Building which is used for both members and non members and the Cowhouse which is strictly members only and is available to members at any time. The Cow house lacks independent toilet and cooking facilities and has a different key to access. Bookings are taken from non-members for the main building only.
Bookings
All bookings should be taken by E-mail. This gives clear trail of booking and contacts details, should any problems occur. Telephone and verbal inquiries should be directed towards this method as it is easier to maintain and ensure no double bookings and a contact trail.
Booking requirements: ask them to fill in a form with dates with contact details, telephone number, Club details and numbers in group ( max booking 25)
Once confirmed a visitors guide can be issued outlining conditions and information on usage.
ESB
As access to meter is restricted, bills tend to be estimated readings and usually over estimated. It is important to ensure 2 corrected readings are rung through to the ESB our MPRU number is 10 103 770 419 and account number 900-985-635. Just call 1850 372 999 and give corrected reading.
Water supply
Supply comes from river to rear of building. Intake above road.
There is a pipe from river to settlement tank (check regularly, inlet can get blocked with leaves etc)
From the settlement tank it is piped under road to head-tank at roadside at rear of building. This tank is tilted so that any sediment settles away from the outflow-to-the-hut vent. An overflow pipe empties back into the stream.
From here it is piped into the hut, entering near the eaves in the toilet block.
Maintenance:
At each visit check that the overflow is flowing. This indicates probable good health up the system and saves walking.
If overflow not flowing check that there are no sags in the pipe from the head tank.
If this does not bring flow then check the head-tank, is it full and overflowing?
If it is not full and overflowing go across the road and up the hill to the settlement tank. Three black pipes come out of the bottom of the tank. Each is fitted into a larger diameter pipe about a metre or so from the tank. Take each in turn out and blow back toward the tank to clear any leaves at the outlets. See water flowing again and reassemble.
At every 3rd or 4th visit check the intake at the top of the system and clear any leaves etc. gathered there. This is particularly important in dry weather when the flow is poor.
On the way down check by looking into the head-tank at road to see flow resumed.
Full water system cleaned out regularly 2012 (both catchment pipe intake and settlement tank)
Standard warden checks
People are slightly more likely to look after a place that they find in a tidy condition so:
Check adequate supply of bog rolls and tea cloths in hu for next bookingt. Bring home and wash dirty tea cloths.
Check that all areas floors, worktop, tables are clean, clean if necessary
Leave delph and cutlery tidy, cups upside down on shelves.
Check cleaning materials
Remove any surplus food
Remove any left behind objects and depending on value search for the leaver, keep or dump.
Is key in the right place (sometimes people put it back where they got it last year)
Items supplied
Cleaning agents / scrubbers e.g. washing up liquid, Savlon/Detol liquid to wipe down kitchen surfaces, pot scrubbers, toilet brushes and sweeping brushes are necessary to supply. Again bulk buy and store in Cow House to place in main building when necessary.
Gas for cooking. This is sourced from McCoy’s shop. Check cylinders to ensure adequate supply.
Oil- kerosene supplied for heating by the Club- Heating switched off May to end August, requiring Warden to simply switch power supply to off position in Cow House, plug above burner. System runs by user pressing a rocker switch beside fuse board in the main building . An electronic timer then kicks in to run the system for 2 hours then press again for a further 2 hours etc. This helps to control the usage of oil. We hold an account with Glen Fuels Kilmacnogue A/C no IRI005 telephone (01) 2861444 to order, usually request 500 ltrs. Must be paid by Credit Card, Hut Warden recovers from Treasurer as with all expenditure paid personally, send receipts.
Oil Burner service Shay Fitzsimons 087 2661271 ( installed 2006)
N.B Wood/coal or turf is not supplied to Hut users they must pay for this themselves..
Tea towels are supplied and within the information mail sent Hut users are requested to leave dirty towels aside. These need to be washed and returned. Ensure sufficient numbers of tea towels in circulation. Store spare clean towels in Cow House.
Toilet rolls are supplied mainly for protection of sewage system from blockage. I have found the cheap “Dunnes Stores brand” perfect. Do not use any bleach or disinfectant in the toilets as this affects the breakdown process in the septic tank. Wiping with disinfectant such as Detol or Savlon liquid is adequate for bowel.
Work weekends
Organising work weekends to complete a specific renovation task/project or to simply get members down to assist in a “spring clean” greatly helps in maintaining/completion of running repairs and avoids the Hut Warden having to do these tasks alone. Usually the Hut is kept clean but it is necessary, particularly after large groups to check after usage. Do not hesitate to mail any group that left rubbish or the building dirty. Withdraw usage where necessary, usually gets the right response and future compliance with rules.
Fire extinguishers
A contract to service all fire equipment is in place with AQUA Fire Prevention Ltd. Unit 8, Cookstown Square, Cookstown Industrial Estate, Tallaght , Dn. 24 telephone 01-4527016. Our account number is IR30. Usually they ring the warden ( they have my telephone number – Conor O’Connor) when they are servicing contracts in the Laragh area to see if it’s OK to do a service. I have made arrangements that they know where the key is so this service does not need the presence of the Warden. They leave the electricity off etc.
Gutters
Due to the position of the building, seasonal leaf fall tends to accumulate in the front and back gutters thus requiring an annual clean.
Keys
Employ a system of leaving the key in a specific place. Move twice per anumn to avoid non arranged usage. Have two keys, one as backup should a group loose a key or take away by accident so if a subsequent group arrives and telephones you, it is easily sorted without requirement for Warden to travel down to Hut.
Grazing fees
The IMC Club allows Mr Shay Conway of Riversdale B&B, Glendasan, graze his sheep in the field below the Hut. An annual token fee of € 10.00 is charged. The Warden sends a letter to Mr Conway requesting payment of these Grazing Fees. THIS IS NOT A RENT PAYMENT and should be referred to as grazing fees in any correspondence. Full access across this field to Hut users is allowed and encouraged. At lambing time visitors must avoid disturbing ewes and lambs.
Weeds
Spray them with a salt and vinegar mix when they start to grow in the spring. Get instructions on the web. Keep forecourt clear and a cordon around all sides of the building and walls.
All external work should be carried out before end of May or after end of August due to midge, unless windy.
Heating system
Sometimes water will run low in rads and heating may eventually stop working. This can be sorted by connecting a hose from the kitchen sink tap to the pipe into the red small tank beside the boiler ( use jubilee clips to hold the hose in place) open kitchen tap and fill valve to heating and vent one rad at a time. When full close kitchen tap and fill valve and remove hose
September/October
Full clean out needed mainly due to spiders. Hoover everywhere does the job. Will last for a few months.
Rat bait from this date. Will keep all rodents in check.