Minister Calleary opens the Balla Community Enterprise Hub & Remote Working Space
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From: Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht
- Published on: 8 November 2025
- Last updated on: 8 November 2025
- Minister Calleary officially opens Balla Community Enterprise Hub & Remote Working Space in Balla, County Mayo
- Investment has been provided through the Town and Village Renewal Scheme to redevelop the courthouse building as a vibrant amenity in the community
Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary TD, today (Saturday, 8th November) visited Balla, County Mayo, to officially open the Community Enterprise Hub & Remote Working Space, which was funded from his Department through the Town and Village Renewal Scheme (TVRS).
In 2022, Mayo County Council received funding of €120,000 under TVRS for projects in Balla which included the redevelopment of the vacant courthouse building into a new enterprise hub and remote working space. The partners on this project were Balla Community Resources Development CLG and Mayo County Council.
The investment from the TVRS in the town is consistent with the Our Rural Future and Town Centre First objectives of attracting more people to live, work, invest in and enjoy rural towns.
Speaking at the opening, Minister Calleary said:
“ It gives me great pleasure to be here in Balla to officially open the Community Enterprise Hub and Remote Working Space. This building is etched in history, once a courthouse, standing as a symbol of justice and public service, it now enters a new chapter where it will serve the public as a place of connection, collaboration and endeavour; giving this historic space a renewed purpose. I has been equipped with the tools required to meet the needs of the local community today and into the future.”
The Minister added:
“My aim is to ensure that the Town and Village Renewal Scheme continues to have a hugely positive impact in supporting sustainable employment creation and town centre resilience and regeneration in Ireland’s rural towns and villages."
Cathaoirleach of Mayo County Council, Cllr Sean Carey said:
“The community and people of Balla, have bought into a vision for a bigger, better and brighter Balla for all, and it is only because of the community working together that things like this can be achieved. Balla is leading the way in showcasing how small towns can drive innovation with this new Community Enterprise Hub and Remote Working Space. Not only will it offer Balla a chance to grow and become an exciting place for people to do business, it also rejuvenates the old Balla Courthouse, brining a significant building in the town’s history back to life in an exciting and modern way.”
Notes
The Town and Village Renewal Scheme (TVRS) is part of a range of measures to support the revitalisation of rural Ireland. The programme is funded under Project Ireland 2040 as part of Our Rural Future, Ireland's Rural Development policy.
Since the introduction of the Scheme in 2016, almost €184 million has been approved for over 1,800 projects across the country.
Under the 2022 Town and Village Renewal Scheme, Mayo County Council was approved for funding of €120,000 for the Balla Community & Enterprise Hub and Balla Woodlands Community Park.
The project was to repurpose the vacant former courthouse which adjoins the existing Balla Community Resource Centre and bring it back into use as a community and enterprise hub and public space. The development of the remote working hub provides 8 workstations with ancillary facilities. This newly developed area also benefits the local community as it can be used by local organisations, groups, and individuals as a training room and meeting room, making the room multi-purpose, and sustainable. This project has breathed new life into the building preserving a piece of local heritage for the people of Balla and surrounding areas.
The Town and Village Renewal Scheme is administered on behalf of the Department of Rural and Community Development by the local authorities.
For more information, go to: Town and Village Renewal Scheme.