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Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, today (Thursday 22nd July) visited County Carlow to open a series of new rural development projects and to announce funding for digital hubs as part of a nationwide tour to promote Our Rural Future.
Our Rural Future is the government’s new rural development strategy, which aims to revitalise towns and villages, promote remote working, and ensure balanced regional development.
One of the Minister’s first engagements was at Enterprise House in Carlow where she announced €8.8 million in funding under the ‘Connected Hubs’ funding scheme. This funding will benefit 117 projects across the country, with six Broadband Connection Points in Carlow to receive a total of €103,320 to facilitate remote working.
Speaking at the Connected Hubs announcement, the Minister said:
“The investment announced today will provide an increased number of families and individuals with the option to live and work in our rural communities.
“Remote working from hubs and broadband connection points, supported by this funding, will also benefit local economies and assist in reducing our carbon emissions.”
Also as part of today’s tour of the county, Minister Humphreys:
Speaking about the launch of the Taste in Carlow Discovery Trail, Minister Humphreys said:
“The Taste in Carlow Discovery Trail is about creating authentic experiences that will promote the food & drink businesses in the area. I was delighted that my Department was able to support the initiative through the Accelerated Town & Village Measure because we want to support businesses in our hospitality sector as they reopen.
“After meeting some of the businesses that are working with the County Council on this initiative, I know they can deliver top-class food & hospitality to locals and visitors alike.”
Commenting on the project, Kathleen Holohan, Chief Executive of Carlow County Council said:
“Carlow has the potential to become a real foodie destination with a wide range of food and drink producers. However, Carlow has been somewhat overlooked for its food production story and this project aims to address the gaps to promoting County Carlow’s Food, Drink and Hospitality offering.
“There is a strong sentiment that Carlow food and drink businesses must work together to deliver the promotion and awareness of a cohesive, consistent and engaging food and drink culture and this project is the first in a series which we will be rolling out over the coming years to realize our collective vision for County Carlow”.
Later the Minister also;
The final stop on the Minister’s visit was the opening of the Borris Viaduct.
Speaking at the opening of the Borris Viaduct the Minister said:
“It is wonderful to be able to officially open the Borris Railway Viaduct project, which received €654,820 funding under my Department’s Rural Regeneration and Development Fund.
“The Viaduct is now safer and more accessible to visitors and links Borris town to its other amenities. The facility can be used for walking and cycling and is a major tourist attraction for the Borris area, one of the key tourism centres in the south of the county and a gateway to the Blackstairs Mountain region.”
The Minister continued:
“Supporting ambitious projects that create new amenities for local people and create tourism potential are key to realising the goals of Our Rural Future, the Government’s plan to revitalise rural Ireland.
“I want to congratulate the local authority and its partners; Borris Tidy Towns, Fáilte Ireland, Carlow Tourism and County Carlow Chamber of Commerce CLG, they have really delivered for their community.”
“A bridge to the past and a link to the Future” is how Cathaoirleach of Carlow County Council Cllr. Fintan Phelan described the project. He continued to say:
“I’d personally like to thank the Minister and her officials for the support of this project and for the project team and local contractors who worked with us to develop this project. In re-opening this Viaduct you can view the sights and landscape that our ancestors would have enjoyed as they travelled by train enroute to Bagenalstown or Palace East in Wexford.”
Please find full details of the investments and projects launched/visited as part of the Minister’s engagements in Carlow.
Investment amounts and funding schemes
Love Carlow Website – €23,735 under Town & Village Accelerated Fund
Connected Hubs Announcement - €103,000 to six Carlow BCPs
Taste in Carlow Discovery Trail - €31,545 under Town & Village Accelerated Fund
Ballon – €119,040 under Town & Village Scheme
Tyndall Statue - €99,964 under the Town & Village Scheme
Ballinkillen Community Centre and Community Café - €103,992 under the Town & Village Scheme
Myshall - €380,122 under Town & Village & Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme
Borris Viaduct - €654,820 under the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund
The National Hub Network Working Group led by the Department of Rural and Community Development has so far identified and mapped 380 remote working hubs across the country. These hubs will be invited to join the Connected Hubs Network to create shared infrastructure that will deliver real benefits across the country.
The recently launched ConnectedHubs.ie platform offers a suite of booking, hub management and e-commerce applications to members of the Network. The Network will also facilitate the sharing of innovation, experience and best practices across the community. These supports will serve to maximise benefit to member hubs, hub clients, employers, local communities and the wider economy.
Membership of the Connected Hubs Network is open to all existing and new hubs who wish to offer remote working services.
The Taste in Carlow Discovery Trail is a bringing together of over 20 food, drink and hospitality enterprises to promote the wonderful offering that County Carlow has for local residents and visitors.
Full details of all the Taste in Carlow Discovery Trail Logo onto www.tasteincarlow.ie
The Borris Railway Viaduct project was approved for funding from the first call for Category 1 applications to the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund. The project was approved for funding of €654,820 for a project costing €873,092.
Carlow County Council has partnered with Borris Tidy Towns, Fáilte Ireland, Carlow Tourism and County Carlow Chamber of Commerce CLG.
The project is located in the Blackstairs Mountain Region in Borris, Co Carlow. The Borris Railway Viaduct was a key part of the walking and cycling trails infrastructure in the region however the Viaduct was closed by Carlow County Council in 2018 due to safety concerns.
The Borris Railway Viaduct project has redeveloped and upgraded the Viaduct to make it safer and more accessible to visitors and to link Borris town to its amenities. The facility can be used for walking and cycling. The completed project has delivered a new amenity and tourism facility for the Borris area.