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Minister Humphreys opens wide range of projects in Limerick supported under Our Rural Future

  • Old Bank Building in Abbeyfeale converted into a Digital Hub
  • Minister opens wide range of Community Projects supported by over €1million in funding from her Department

Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, has today officially opened a wide range of projects across Limerick including a new remote working hub in Abbeyfeale.

A former bank on Abbeyfeale Main Street has been re-developed as remote working hub.

The Abbeyfeale E-hub is part of the ENGINE Hubs Network a collaborative cluster of business hubs spanning the Mid-West and North Kerry.

Speaking in Abbeyfeale, Minister Humphreys said:

“This is a wonderful facility and I am delighted to see my department’s funding put to such good use. Under the popular Town and Village Renewal Scheme, we have provided €200,000 to fit out co-working spaces at this former bank. Really, this facility sums up what my Department and the Our Rural Future policy is all about. Right across the country, we are taking old buildings such as banks, convents, factories, cinemas – and redeveloping them as e-hubs and remote working facilities. It’s all about breathing new life into our towns and villages such as Abbeyfeale – making them better places to live, work, and raise a family. And it’s about saying loud and clear – Rural Ireland is open for business.”

The Minister also opened a range of new rural development projects in the county:

  • Dromcollogher Community Park and walking trail;
  • ASH - Ashford Social Hub;
  • Barnagh Greenway Hub Playground; and
  • Ardagh District Recreational and Sporting Company Astro-turf facility

All of these projects received investment from the Department of Rural and Community Development to deliver the Government’s rural development strategy – Our Rural Future.

The Minister’s visit also took her to Ardagh Station House and Limerick Greenway Hub.

The Great Southern Limerick Greenway project previously received investment capital of €2.7 million from Rural Regeneration and Development Fund.

A further €600,000 was allocated to develop Greenway Hubs. This will involve the renovation of heritage buildings and sites adjacent to the Greenway at Abbeyfeale and Ardagh.

Speaking in Ardagh, the Minister said:

“I am delighted to be here today to visit the Great South Limerick Greenway. This is a transformation project for the region and I wish to congratulate Limerick County Council and the project partners on completing the Greenway last year. The last two years have shown us how vital our outdoor amenities are for our mental and physical wellbeing. Investing in our natural amenities to benefit the health and wellbeing of our communities and to support the growth in local and international adventure tourism is a key goal of the Governments rural policy, Our Rural Future.”

The visit concluded at the Rathkeale Railway Goods Shed project which has been approved for funding of €200,000 under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme.

ENDS

Notes to editor:

Please find full details of the investments and projects launched as part of the Minister’s engagements in Limerick.

Roots Community Shop & Café Kilmeedy

This is a local convenience shop and café in the heart of the village, run as a social enterprise with a shop manager and local volunteers and stocking local produce. It received €90,346 from the LEADER programme and €100,000 through the Town and Village Renewal Scheme.

Dromcollogher Community Park and walking trail

The park is landscaped with walkways and trees, recently planted. It provides a safe walking environment for all age groups, serving the people of Dromcollogher and wider communities. The Park also connects to existing footpaths in the town creating a looped walk and a village heritage trail. It received almost €200,000 under the LEADER programme and the Town and Village Renewal Scheme.

The ASH - Ashford Social Hub

The project involved the renovation of Ashford Tavern - a former pub and dance hall which had been vacant for some five years - and conversion to a community centre. It received €183,998 from the LEADER programme.

Abbeyfeale ENGINE E-Hub

The former AIB Bank on Main Street has been re-developed as an E-hub and part-funded by TVRS. Abbeyfeale E-hub is part of the ENGINE Hubs Network. It received €200,000 through the Town and Village Renewal Scheme.

Barnagh Greenway Hub Playground

Barnagh is developing as an important Hub for Greenway services and recreation as well as the most scenic stopping point on the Limerick Greenway. It received €16,700 from the LEADER programme.

Ardagh Station House & access point to the Limerick Greenway. Limerick Greenway Hub@Ardagh

Re-surfacing works, Barnagh Tunnel & other infrastructural works on the Limerick Greenway - €2,724,657 from the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund and Limerick Greenway Hub@Ardagh was approved for funding of €600,000 also from the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund.

Ardagh District Recreational and Sporting Company Astro-turf

Ardagh District Recreational and Sporting Company Limited is a community group established to develop rural community facilities for the parish communities of Ardagh, Carrickerry, Kilcolman, Coolcappa and West Limerick. It received €357,633 from the LEADER programme.

Rathkeale Railway Goods Shed

The project involves the restoration of the derelict railway goods shed building for community cultural and tourism uses, and to support tourism development linked to the Limerick Greenway. This project was approved for funding of €200,000 from the Town and Village Renewal Scheme.

Our Rural Future

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.

LEADER

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).

Rural Regeneration and Development Fund

To date, the fund has invested over €278 million in 191 projects worth a total of €376 million across Ireland. This investment from the RRDF is truly transformational for rural Ireland.

Funding of over RRDF Funding of €12.8 million has been approved for nine projects located in Limerick.

The Town & Village Renewal Scheme

The Town & 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. The Scheme has supported settlements the length and breadth of the country.