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Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys, has visited a wide range of projects across County Leitrim which have received funding of over €5 million from her department.
All of the projects opened as part of the Minister’s visit received investment under the government’s ambitious rural development policy, Our Rural Future.
Minister Humphreys began the day in Ballinamore, where her first visit of the day was to the remote working hub at Ballinamore Enterprise Centre. The hub was 1 of 11 in Leitrim that received a combined investment of almost €250,000 in funding under the Connected Hubs Call last year.
The Minister continued to The Junction project in Ballinamore, which has received over €2.47 million in funding under the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund. The project will regenerate 2 listed buildings and a derelict site in the centre of Ballinamore to provide a digital hub and co-working space, an artistic space for the promotion of local arts and crafts and a youth facility.
Speaking at The Junction, Minister Humphreys said:
“This is a major project for the town of Ballinamore that has received almost €2.5 million under my department’s Rural Regeneration and Development Fund. When complete in April 2023, it will have a transformative impact on the town – providing a Digital Hub, an artistic space for a new Leitrim Arts School and a new state of the art youth facility. I wish to congratulate Leitrim County Council and the community on your efforts and commitment in getting the project to a stage where construction has commenced.”
The Minister then went on to officially open The Island Theatre, which received over €200,000 in funding in total through the 2018 Town and Village Renewal Scheme and LEADER. The theatre is a state-of-the-art performance venue that seat over 240 people for stage performances and film screenings.
Opening the theatre, Minister Humphreys said:
“Developments such as are so vital to the community. They increase the social and cultural capital of our towns, and help to boost economic activity in the area - making our rural towns more attractive places to live and work.”
The Minister then continued to Drumshanbo where she officially opened the Millrace Enhancement, which received over €98,000 in funding under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme. This funding provided for enhancements to the car park and boundary wall at the Millrace River where a walkway was contrasted in 2019.
Speaking at the official opening, the Minister commented:
“Drumshanbo is a small town – but it’s a town with a really big heart. And I know this project will attract so many more visitors to Drumshanbo and provide a real boost to the local community. People of all ages will be able to walk and cycle along the Millrace River – clear their heads, meet friends and family which is so good for our mental and physical health.”
The Minister’s next stop of the day was to Dromahair to view the location of the proposed regeneration project which will see an investment of €2.4 million under the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund. The project will incorporate an open library, a new community centre, hot desk facilities and 4 housing units.
Speaking in Dromahair, the Minister said:
“This is a transformative project for the town that will combat dereliction, provide essential community services and create a vibrant and attractive town centre. I wish to congratulate you on your swift progress in progressing the project and look forward to visiting Dromahair when the project is completed.”
The Minister then went on to see a new car park in Manorhamilton which received €96,000 under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme. This project converted an existing dormant site in Manorhamilton town centre into a car park that has 28 car parking spaces.
The Minister then continued her visit in Leitrim with her next stop in Glenfarne. Here the Minister launched the Glenfarne Wood Thematic Area Masterplan which was granted funding of €20,000 under the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme.
The Minister then continued to Rossinver where she officially opened Fowley’s Falls, a 3 kilometre, riverside and cascading falls development which received funding of over €180,000 under the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme 2020.
Speaking at the opening, the Minister said:
“I know you’ve heard about Our Rural Future – that’s our 5-year rural development policy. It’s designed to enhance and revitalise our rural communities. When you look around us here today – it’s clear our policy is having a hugely positive impact. And for me, it is particularly welcome that it is my department’s Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme that has supported your efforts with over €180,000 in funding towards this wonderful project. The Fowley Falls Trail project is an excellent example of what can be achieved when people work collaboratively for the benefit of the wider community.”
The Minister’s next stop was to visit the Access to Sea project at Tullaghan. Tullaghan has the single shortest stretch of county coastline in Ireland and the funding of €198,000 under the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme 2021 will provide a safe recreational infrastructure to access Tullaghan beach once complete.
The Minister’s final stop on this visit to Leitrim was to Kinlough. Here she visited the Kinlough Enterprise Centre and Kinlough Hub which received over €175,000 in funding combined with €89,600 from the Town and Village Renewal Scheme and €86,303 through LEADER. House which received over €2 million in funding under the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund.
Speaking at her final stop in County Leitrim today, the Minister said:
“The work undertaken here in Kinlough is a prime example of how a small investment can have a significant impact locally. Providing remote working spaces enables workers to stay local, and makes Kinlough an attractive place to live. I have had the opportunity to see the wonderful work and creativity that is taking place in communities’ right across the county. I have been proud to play a part in this effort through the funding provided by my department through Our Rural Future – the government’s transformative rural development policy.”
Please find full details of the investments and projects launched as part of the Minister’s engagements in Leitrim.
Ballinamore Buzz Centre offers fully serviced office space available to rent on a daily weekly or monthly options, with small and large office spaces. Available for single-use training, events, interviews or meetings. Also provided are canteen facilities, high speed broadband and ample car parking.
The centre was approved for funding of €55,000 under the Connected Hubs Call in 2021.
The Junction in Ballinamore was approved for funding of €2,471,070 under the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF).
The project will regenerate and restore 2 listed buildings and a derelict site in the centre of Ballinamore to provide a digital hub and co-working space, an artistic space for the promotion of local arts and crafts and a youth facility. The project will preserve and capitalise on local heritage assets and address the need for more social activities and facilities for people in the area.
The restoration involves 2 listed buildings, (a station building and a coach building workshop extending to 560 m2), external site works, facilitation of a Greenway path through the site and the fitting out of the buildings and site to enable immediate commencement of 3 distinct and compatible operations:
Funding under the 2018 Town and Village Renewal Scheme and LEADER, The Island Theatre is a state-of-the-art Performance Venue located in Ballinamore, Co Leitrim in the Northwest of Ireland. It can seat up to 241 people for stage performances and film screenings and boasts a fantastically airy adjoining space for community and social functions.
There are a number of different sized meeting rooms available to rent including a large function room with panoramic views of the town, a sizeable balcony and a cafe/bar making the Theatre an attractive venue for conferences.
The theatre’s aims are to nurture and develop Leitrim based music, dance, drama performers, to bring national and international talent representing a wide range of cultural genres to the North West, to nurture our vibrant home-grown community arts programmes and to bring valuable employment opportunities to the town.
Grant awarded:
In 2019 a walkway was constructed along the Millrace River adjacent to the Mart in the village of Drumshanbo.
Funding was then secured under Town and Village 2020 of €98,100 to provide for:
Resurfacing, marking and provision of disabled parking bays which reinvigorated the existing space between the walkway and the public road which operated as a car park for the town. Height restrictors were installed to allow the car park to be used by shopping traffic rather than Mart traffic.
Enhancement of local recreational facilities and increased footfall by improving the aspect of the town at the Mart environs. This required a proper environmental boundary treatment which screens off the Mart property.
This proposed development provides for walking and cycling in this area and safer access to the adjoining blueway at the Shannon Canal network for locals and visitors alike.
This Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF) project of €2,474,876 promotes the regeneration of Dromahair Town and the surrounding area and involves the demolition and repurposing of a derelict 2-storey hotel complex in the town centre.
The RRDF proposal will incorporate:
The construction of a new community library facility will contribute positively to the development of Dromahair town by transforming Main Street and acting as a catalyst for further improvements. It will support the revitalisation of the town and help create a vibrant town centre. It will create a modern, vibrant and attractive cultural focal point in the town, driving regeneration, and leading to increased economic and civic activity in the town centre. Its central location will attract a wide range of users and will deliver a high-quality user experience.
This project was funded €96,000 under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme 2018 to convert an existing dormant site in Manorhamilton town centre into a car park that has 28 car parking spaces.
The proposed site was the former Parochial house and gardens and is owned by Leitrim County Council. This car park brought more car parking spaces to attractions and businesses in Manorhamilton town centre. The new parking facility is also perfectly situated to service the main tourist attraction in the town which is Manorhamilton Castle, as well as the Glens Centre and Leitrim Sculpture Centre.
The further development of the existing Food Hub will enable it to become a major driver of food innovation, enterprise and job creation in the region.
Glenfarne Wood is a 215-hectare Coillte forest on the banks of Lough Macnean in North Leitrim. For many years it has provided valuable recreation through a series of walking and family cycling trails (6.5 km) as well as water access and angling stands.
There is further recreation potential in this ‘hidden gem’ as an immersive natural experience for locals and visitors. There are also opportunities for the small-scale commercial provision of activities which are appropriate for this setting.
The plan received a grant of €20,000 under the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Strategy 2020.
Fowley's Falls trail is a 3km, riverside, point-to-point path that follows the course of the Glenaniff river. Unlike the nearby and famous Glencar waterfall which falls in a single drop, Fowley's Falls cascades in a series of drops to form a spectacular torrent of water rushing through the steep valley towards Lough Melvin.
First cleared in the 1980s, narrow gravel paths and stiles were made from stone drawn from the riverbed. Hedgerow windows were cut at various stopping points in the walk for viewing and local support provided a bridge over a tributary to the river. The aim was to provide a natural trail with minimum interference to the natural ecosystem.
In 2016 a landslide caused a partial closure of the walk at Fowley’s Falls breaking its continuity and creating a hazard.
This project funded by €180,180 under ORIS 2020 completed the following:
The completion of this project in this rural and border location provides locals and visitors with a year-round trail that facilitates walking and well-being in a forest, river and natural environment.
Tullaghan is located on the N15 between Sligo and Bundoran, County Donegal. Tullaghan has the single shortest stretch of county coastline in Ireland – 4 kilometres (2.5 miles) long. Currently, there is no safe public access route to the coastline at Tullaghan. There is also no dedicated car parking available to visitors in the vicinity.
Funding provided by ORIS 2021 of €198,000 will assist with:
1. The widening and surfacing of the existing access road to the wastewater pumping station to include the provision of a 1.8m wide footpath with public lighting and the restoration of the existing piers and boundary wall at the entrance area off public road L2059. The road is 70m from the L2059 to the car park, the shared surface from the car park to the shoreline is 200m.
2. Provision of car parking (15 Spaces) including, disability parking spaces in line with guidelines, plus 2 bus spaces and bike racks suitable for securely locking bicycles. There will be hard and soft landscaping of the site and public lighting will be provided.
3. Construction of a 4m wide road from the proposed carpark to the coastline for pedestrian and emergency vehicle access with a turning circle and the provision. Close to the shoreline picnic benches and seating will be provided. There will also be a biodiversity area, with selected plants ensuring proper plant establishment and pollinating.
Currently, there is no safe public access route to the coastline at Tullaghan. There is also no dedicated car parking available to visitors in the vicinity. The access is proposed for a greenfield area where it will cross pastureland towards the seashore.
Tullaghan Access to the Sea will provide a safe recreational infrastructure for the local rural community and visitors with an inclusive approach supporting a diverse range of users, including people with disabilities and older adults.
Safe public access to the coast at Tullaghan is necessary to support all sea and land-based activities and to allow emergency services to get access to the coast. Safe car, disabled vehicle, bus, and bike parking will stop the current trend in roadside parking and planting on site will contribute and augment local biodiversity.
Kinlough Community Enterprise Centre was extended to provide 2 large room spaces which are ideal for enterprise development and a digital hub, with space for training courses, hot desk facilities, classes & activities, back-to-work schemes, education and recreation, after-school and youth groups.
8 workstations are available to companies or individual entrepreneurs on a shared services or hot-desk basis. There is also a Hi-Tech Meeting Room on the 1st floor that can seat up to 20 people and comes with a 65” touch screen display with built in PC for remote working. The facilities are used by a wide variety of stakeholders’ small business owners, community groups, agencies and the local authority.
Funding was provided through the 2018 Town and Village Renewal Scheme: €89,600 and LEADER: €86,303.
Our Rural Future is the whole-of-government policy for rural Ireland for the period 2021-2025. It represents a new milestone in the approach to rural development policy for Ireland and adopts a more strategic, ambitious and holistic approach to investing in and maximising opportunities for rural areas.
The Rural Regeneration and Development Fund is a commitment of €1 billion by Government to be invested in rural Ireland over the period 2019 to 2027.
In total the Fund has now provided over €278 million for 191 projects across the country worth a total of €376 million.
In relation to projects in County Leitrim, the Fund has provided €10.3 million in funding for projects worth €12.6 million.
The Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS) provides funding for the development of new outdoor recreational infrastructure. It also provides support for the necessary repair, maintenance, enhancement or promotion of existing outdoor recreational infrastructure in rural areas across Ireland. ORIS provides funding for the development of new and existing outdoor recreational infrastructure in rural areas. It funds trails, cycleways, blueways, bridleways, outdoor amenities located near rivers, lakes and beaches.
The Town and Village Renewal Scheme provides funding for projects that make our towns and villages more attractive and sustainable. Since the launch of the Town and Village Renewal Scheme in 2016, almost €93 million has been allocated to more than 1,300 projects across Ireland.
LEADER is part of Ireland’s Rural Development Programme that is co-funded by the EU, which operates a locally-led, bottom-up, approach to meeting the needs of local communities and businesses. The programme supports private enterprises and community groups in rural areas. LEADER forms part of Ireland’s multi-annual Rural Development Programme which is co-financed by the EU and is part of the Common Agriculture Policy (CAP).
The LEADER programme is delivered by 29 Local Action Groups (LAGs) in 28 sub-regional areas. These groups are partnerships of public and private entities from a defined geographical area. LAGs are responsible for identifying and helping to develop local projects which support the themes of Economic Development (including enterprise development and job creation), Social Inclusion and Rural Environment.
Ireland was allocated almost €190 million in European Union Recovery Instrument (EURI) funding for the transitional period, €20 million of which is assigned to LEADER. This measure/scheme is supported by EU Recovery Instrument Funding under the Rural Development Programme 2014-2022.