Clare County Council has welcomed an announcement by the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary TD, of funding approvals for projects in County Clare under the 2025 Town and Village Renewal Scheme.
The investment will support the regeneration and vitality of town and village centres, help tackle vacancy and dereliction and strengthen social and economic activity at community level.
In Clare, €500,000 in funding has been approved for the refurbishment and extension of a 1940s community hall in Mountshannon to create a theatre, arts venue and market space. Some €50,000 has been allocated for a Project Development Measure in Milltown Malbay to progress design work associated with the expansion of the Design Bank Centre.
In Scarriff, €274,000 has been approved to develop the former co-op shop in Drewsborough into a permanent and purpose-built youth centre for Fishbowl Youth.
Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council, Cllr Paul Murphy, said, “Today’s approvals are a vote of confidence in our towns and villages. The Mountshannon project will deliver a high‑quality cultural and community venue in the heart of the village, the design funding for the Design Bank Centre in Milltown Malbay will help a successful community enterprise take its next step, and the Scarriff youth centre will provide a permanent hub for Fishbowl Youth and for young people in east Clare. Working with Clare County Council, the community groups are committed to delivering these projects to add to the quality of life in our communities.”
Announcing the national allocations, Minister Dara Calleary said, “I am delighted to announce the successful projects selected from applications to the 2025 Town and Village Renewal Scheme. The scheme continues to have a hugely positive impact in Ireland’s rural towns and villages and this investment will further strengthen this work. We will continue to roll-out significant levels of investment in rural Ireland – making our towns and villages better places to live, work, raise a family and run a business. Today’s announcement confirms our strong commitment to supporting our rural communities both economically and socially.”
The Town and Village Renewal Scheme is administered through local authorities and supports projects that revitalise town and village centres, increase footfall, and repurpose vacant or derelict buildings for community use. The local community groups will now progress the approved projects, in partnership with Clare County Council.