Funding to revive Killeshandra town centre

Killeshandra and Ballybay have been named among 26 towns nationwide for investment under the latest round of the Town Centre First scheme.

Minister for Rural and Community Development, local TD Heather Humphreys, confirmed the designation for Killeshandra this morning.

This means the town will receive funding of €30,000 to deal with issues such as vacancy and dereliction, attracting new investment and tourism and driving future growth. Killeshandra currently has an official population of almost 400 people, according to the latest Census figures.

The Town Regeneration Officer in Cavan will drive forward a series of projects aimed at revitalising Killeshandra, as part of the Minister’s initiative.

Other towns in the region to receive the designation in the second phase of the programme include Ballybay in Co Monaghan; Castlepollard in Co Westmeath and Manorhamilton in Co Leitrim.

Bailieborough and Carrickmacross already received funding under the first phase of the Town Centre First initiative, which was launched in 2022.

Announcing the latest funding, Minister Humphreys said: "As we all know, communities are at the heart of rural Ireland.

“Town Centre First is all about empowering people to develop a vision for their town that can make it a better place to live, work, invest in and enjoy."

The implementation of these plans, through Town Regeneration Offices, Minister Humphreys explained, ensure there is a strategic approach at a local level to tackle vacancy and dereliction in towns and villages.

Emphasising the government's commitment to rural Ireland and progressing such projects under the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund, Minister Humphreys said: “Along with Bailieborough, we will now help support Killeshandra in driving forward initiatives that will see the communities there reap the benefits.”

Fianna Fáil TD Brendan Smith also expressed his delight at the news - saying it would "impact positively" and deliver real investment and benefits for the town centres of Killeshandra and Ballybay.

This funding, coupled with other schemes such as the Croí Cónaithe Fund and the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, he said, are helping to tackle dereliction in urban and rural settings.

"The scourge of dereliction needs to be tackled as urgently as possible. It is extremely important to use existing vacant and derelict buildings for housing, business and community use and local authorities such as Cavan and Monaghan along with local communities are playing a key role in ensuring that maximum benefit is derived from these important government funded initiatives,” stated Deputy Smith.

To find out more about the initiative and how communities can become involved, visit www.towncentrefirst.ie