Plazas, bowling greens and community spaces among the big plans for rural towns
Almost €2million in funding for projects in Oldcastle and Dunshaughlin was announced by Rural Affairs Minister Heather Humphreys last week.
The funding under the Rural Regeneration Development Fund (RRDF) will see an upgrade of the town square and Fairgreen in Oldcastle, while Dunshaughlin Courthouse will be upgraded as a community space.
In total, €21.5 million has been announced for 27 landmark regeneration projects in rural communities across the country.
The funding announced will bring these projects through the development stage and to the point where they are ready to commence works.
The Oldcastle project will receive €854,502 to develop plans for public realm upgrades to the town square, including connecting roads and spaces. Plans for the vacant Fairgreen area will include an outdoor area, plaza and bowling green.
The Dunshaughlin project is to get €952,600 to develop plans for the refurbishment of the Courthouse for use as a multi-purpose community space as well as public realm works along two adjacent roads to improve pedestrian safety, traffic flow and parking. The project aims to improve the heritage, social and economic assets of the area and renew the public realm to create a more attractive town centre.
Commenting on the local funding aspect of announcement, Cathaoirleach of Meath County Council Cllr Sean Drew said: "The Council is committed to driving these types of investments in our town centres throughout Meath, which will leverage other investments and enable our towns to grow and prosper.
"The dedicated work of our Regeneration Team together with the collaboration of the local communities has led to the successful announcement for Oldcastle and Dunshaughlin.
"I would like to commend all involved for the work in developing these exciting projects, to thank the Minister for the confidence placed in the potential of Meath and look forward to similar investments in the future for town centres across our county."
‘Investing in a vibrant, attractive and exciting place to live’
DUNSHAUGHLIN
The plans for Dunshaughlin will see the refurbishment of the Courthouse for use as a multi-purpose community space, as well as public realm works along two adjacent roads to improve pedestrian safety, traffic flow and parking.
The Francis Johnstown designed Courthouse on the main street was built around 1800 and was in use as a courthouse up until around 20 years ago.
Cathaoirleach of Ratoath Municipal District, Cllr Nick Killian welcomed the announcement and said "This investment will help re-energise Dunshaughlin as a vibrant, attractive and exciting place to live, provide opportunities for new and existing businesses and attract investment in the town.
"The Courthouse, a significant historic structure in the town, will be refurbished for use as a multi-purpose community space. We have continued to work with local communities to develop regeneration projects that can make a real difference to the attractiveness and liveability of our towns throughout the County. I would like to acknowledge the many community groups in Dunshaughlin who have worked tirelessly to make this work possible," he said.
Cllr Gerry O'Connor said it was a great start to 2022.
He recalled that 11 years ago, the Renaissance Committee, of which he as a member commissioned a study with the help of a grant and funds they raised themselves to see what could be done with the historic building.
"The committee was led by Oliver McKenna along with Patricia Lynch, Ralph Lynch, Frank Daly, Lally McCormack, Luke Colleran and many others and by the Historical Society working with Dara McGowan and Des Foley in the last few years.
"Unfortunately the report gathered dust for years, because of the financial crash, but it is great to see it being progressed again."
Cllr O'Connor also paid tribute to Noel Larkin, Paul Healy, Peter Kavanagh, Dunshaughlin GAA, Dunshaughlin Youths, Dunshaughlin and District Historical Society, Dunshaughlin Community Centre, Dunshaughlin Athletics and Dunshaughlin Harvest Festival Committee who all sent in letters of support for the original application in 2020.
"It’s really great to see the community working together with the Local Authority seeking funding for local projects like this. The project itself has a budgeted costing of approximately €4million, of which this is the first phase."
He explained that footpaths on both sides of the Main Street from Madden's up to Foley's Auctioneers on one side and from Seamus Flynn's to the Tara News Junction on the other side will finally be upgraded.
"The Junction at Tara News will be made pedestrian and car friendly, making it far safer than it is now.
"Finally I would like to thank Minister Helen McEntee for her support in championing the application with Minister Heather Humphreys."
Minister Thomas Byrne warmly welcomed the news. “This is wonderful news. Full praise to the community in Dunshaughlin for pursuing this Government funding. This project will develop plans for the Courthouse to be used as a multi-purpose community space. Pedestrian safety and traffic flow in the vicinity will also be improved with the funding. Well done also to Meath County Council for working closely with the community group in Dunshaughlin in accessing this funding," he said.
‘A renewed public space at the heart of the community which will attract visitors’
OLDCASTLE
The Oldcastle project involves plans for upgrades to the town square, including connecting roads and spaces, as well creating an outdoor area, plaza and possibly a bowling green at the Fairgreen.
The plan, which aims to modernise and upgrade the social, economic and heritage assets of the area will reorganise the heart of the town with the addition of new public spaces, pedestrian crossings and changes to parking.
Plans for a town square include public spaces, crossing points and the removal of some parking spaces to ensure safe crossing points, the use of lighting to enhance spaces, tree planting, rain gardens and wildlife friendly plants.
Oldcastle Tidy Tows chairman, Gerry McDermott said he was thrilled and delighted at the funding allocation.
"It will see the square completely revamped and the Fairgreen used for the community. It will make the town more people friendly and pleasing to the eye," he said,
He recalled that Concepta Farrelly and himself, along members of the Tidy Towns Committee, Deputy Johnny Guirke and former councillor, Ollie Fox had been the driving forces behind the proposals.
He also paid tribute to Minister Damien English, Cllr Sarah Reilly, Cllr Carmel Brady of Cavan and Minister Heather Humphreys for their work on the project.
Deputy Johnny Guirke described it as "brilliant news for the people of Oldcastle."
"I’m delighted to have been part of this project since our first meeting with officials on 19th March 2019.
"Never in our dreams would we of thought that when we all sat down in the room over the Oldcastle Library nearly three years ago that we would have achieved this good announcement.
"The work that was put in by the Oldcastle Tidy Towns Committee was enormous and especially Gerry McDermott, who deserves a huge amount of credit for the work he put into getting this project across the line.
"The plan will create a renewed public space at the heart of the community which will attract visitors.
"This is a great day for the community and surrounding areas of Oldcastle and for myself personally.
"I would like to thank all the officials who I have worked closely with over the last three years from the Meath County Council planning department, heritage department and the building design work," he said.
Cllr Sarah Reilly said the funding will ensure that the objectives laid out in the Oldcastle Public Realm Plan will be realised.
"Given the tremendous work done by the community and by Oldcastle Tidy Towns in formulating and shaping the plan, it is wonderful news. Having walked through the plan with the Tidy Towns Committee and Minister Damien English I am confident that the plan once implemented will rejuvenate and reinvigorate the area," she said.