Funding of €164 million has been announced to aid regeneration and revitalisation projects at 30 rural towns and villages across the country.
It is the biggest allocation of funding under the Rural Regeneration and Development fund since the fund started in 2019.
It has committed €1 billion in financial supports over a nine year period up to 2027 aimed at tackling dereliction, building vacancy and community hubs and infrastructure, and enhancing heritage assets in locations across the country.
The announcement was made by Minister for Rural and Community Development Heather Humphreys as she visited Loop Head lighthouse in Co Clare, which has benefited from funds of up to €1m from the rural regeneration scheme to upgrade visitor facilities there.
The lighthouse has a long maritime history dating back originally to the 1670s and also as a working tower lighthouse dating back to the early 1800s.
It has re-opened for the 2024 tourist season and the funds helped provide the first mains water supply to the complex, which in turn allowed other developments to proceed.
The visitor hub has been upgraded and further work is under way to enhance looped walking trails, six designated viewing points, and new car parking facilities.
Thirty other projects are being funded under the latest RRDF tranche, including converting derelict buildings in Edenderry, Co Offaly, and Ballyhaunis in Co Mayo, into community libraries and arts and enterprise hubs, as well as a central hub in the village of Creeslough in Co Donegal.
Successful projects announced for funding include:
Edenderry, Co Offaly (€12.2m): Redevelopment of a derelict site to provide a new community library and arts base and regenerate the centre of the town.
Ballyhaunis, Co Mayo (€5.2m): Redevelopment of a derelict convent primary school building and grounds to provide a public library, enterprise hub and public park.
Limerick Greenway Hubs Development Project, Co Limerick (€9.6m): Redevelopment of former stations houses along the Limerick Greenway route to create mini destinations, trailheads and service hubs.
Cresslough, Co Donegal (€12.1m): A new central hub that will be transformative for the community.
Cahersiveen, Co Kerry (€6.4m): Regeneration of the town centre including the renovation of an historic building as a community facility and development of a waterfront amenity and boardwalk.
Enniscrone, Co Sligo (€8.4m): Regeneration of key seafront areas including the redevelopment of the historic Cliff Bath House, upgrading of the Cliff Walk and redevelopment of a derelict building to provide a new community pavilion.
Baile Bhúirne, Co Cork (€3.2m): Redevelopment of a former residential school to provide a Regional Development Centre - an enterprise development, training and research facility.
Tuam Co Galway (€3.6m): Town Hall redevelopment as a multi-purpose community facility.
Minister Humphreys said these projects have the aim and ambition to be truly transformative for small rural towns and villages to combat dereliction and respond to community needs by stimulating the economies of the economies of small rural locations.
