Castletown Community Hub and coffee shop moves closer to construction
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Kieran Kehoe, Chief Executive Meath County Council, Ronan Balfe, Associate Director, Hanley Taite Design Partnership, Dominic Owens, Director, Dominic Owens Plant Hire Ltd., Cllr Sean Drew, Kells MD, Meath County CouncilImage 2 of 3
At the signing of contracts for the the Castletown cottage project were:(Back Row) Silvana Di Cioccio, Executive Engineer, Meath County Council, Patrick Shore, Town Regeneration Officer, Meath County Council, Ronan Balfe, Associate Director, Hanley Taite Design Partnership; Front row: Dara Mc Gowan, Director of Services, Meath County Council, Kieran Kehoe, Chief Executive, Meath County Council, Cllr Cllr Sean Drew, Cathaoirleach for Kells MD, Dominic Owens, Director, Dominic Owens Plant Hire Ltd.Image 3 of 3
Meath County Council Chief Executive Kieran Kehoe and Kells MD Cathaoirleach Sean Drew signing construction contracts for the redevelopment of a derelict cottage in Castletown into a community hub and coffee shop.Work has commenced to transform a derelict cottage in Castletown into a new community hub and coffee shop. The cottage is located just off the Boyne Valley to Lakelands County Greenway in Castletown and has been vacant for over 20 years.
Contracts were recently signed with Dominic Owens Plant Hire Ltd for the construction project and the contractor moved on site last week. Some initial site clearance works have been carried out with construction work due to begin early next week.
The project is expected to take approximately 12 months to complete. It is being driven by Castletown Tidy Towns, has received €250,000 in Town and Village Renewal funding, with Meath County Council providing the remaining balance.
Vacant for over 20 years, the cottage will be restored to reflect a 1930s interior, offering a warm, inclusive space for local groups, including active retirement, tidy towns, and parents associations. The existing slate roof will be replaced and the new roof will be metal cladding. A coffee dock extension will be added, serving both the local community and users of the nearby Boyne Valley to Lakeslands County Greenway, providing another stopover point. The outdoor space will also host seasonal farmers’ and craft markets.
“This is a transformative project for Castletown,” remarked Cathaoirleach of Kells Municipal District Cllr Sean Drew. “It’s not just about a building—it’s about building a community.”