The Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary TD, announced over €20.5 million in funding for 30 landmark rural regeneration projects across Ireland. This investment, provided under the Rural Regeneration Development Fund (RRDF), aims to rejuvenate town centres, drive economic growth, increase footfall, combat dereliction, develop pedestrian zones, and boost tourism in rural communities.
The projects funded focus on heritage, tourism, and enterprise, transforming derelict or underused buildings such as heritage sites, former cinemas, courthouses, and vacant structures into creative studios, visitor centres, museums, libraries, and community spaces. Notable examples include €971,000 for Roscrea’s multi-use community facility and public realm enhancements, €780,000 for Moate town centre improvements including parking and universal access, €1,000,000 for the Rosslare Sustainable Tourism Experience, €870,000 for Swinford’s Urban Realm Project to create a new public space, €772,000 for the refurbishment of The Old Steam Mill in Skibbereen as a famine exhibition centre, and €558,000 for Rosses Point Community Boat Park in Sligo to support tourism and maritime activities.
Minister Calleary highlighted the transformative impact of these projects, stating that the €1 billion RRDF, established under Project Ireland 2040, is central to promoting balanced regional growth and enhancing the quality of life in rural areas. He emphasized that the projects funded under Category 2 of the RRDF will enable large-scale projects to reach full planning, design, and technical readiness, allowing for more certainty in scope, cost, and delivery timelines before applying for further funding under Category 1.
The Minister acknowledged the high level of interest and quality of applications received and committed to providing feedback to unsuccessful applicants to help them prepare for future funding rounds. He underscored the long-term social and economic benefits of these investments, noting that they will leave a lasting legacy for generations of families in rural Ireland.
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