Regeneration in Rockcorry

It’s onwards and upwards for the village of Rockcorry thanks to the great work being undertaken by the Rockcorry Community Development Association in conjunction with the support of its partner, Monaghan County Council, writes Tommy McCormack.

Central to the Rockcorry Vision Plan 2030 is the whole idea of tackling the issue of dereliction in the village and a really good story about this was communicated to me earlier this week by Pascal Smith (RCDA) and Michael Carroll (GAA Club PRO). Michael included the following article on the Club’s Facebook Page, and it is something that the people of the village should get excited about. The article states:

Nestled at the edge of Rockcorry village in County Monaghan stands the Widows Row, (see photo) one of the county’s most significant cluster of heritage buildings. Also known as the Griffith Alms houses, the terrace of four houses was built in 1847 by local benefactor Joseph Griffiths, to serve as alms-houses for ‘destitute widows’ during one of the most difficult periods in Irish history - the years of the Great Famine.

Architecturally, the terrace is notable for its Georgian proportions, stone construction, brick window surrounds and pedimented doorcases, demonstrating a remarkable level of craftsmanship for charitable rural housing of the period.

The buildings are listed on the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage as the Griffith Alms-houses and are recognised as key heritage assets and protected structures within the Monaghan County Development Plan.

Over recent years, however, Widows Row has become vacant and derelict, with the owners unable to maintain the properties and the building fabric and features at significant risk. It is in this context that Monaghan County Council has taken the significant step of acquiring the properties to safeguard their integrity, with plans to restore the buildings to provide homes for people in the county.

This represents an important step in preserving built heritage, honouring the social history of the place and revitalising the historic streetscape in Rockcorry village.

The story of Widows Row is one of 19th century philanthropy and charitable housing at a time of great national need. Its next chapter, almost 170 years after being built, will be about renewal and becoming much-needed homes once again.

The acquisition and restoration of the Widows Row in Rockcorry is part of a much wider county-wide programme of regeneration being advanced by Monaghan County Council.

Dereliction in the village is a problem that was a recurring theme identified throughout the community consultations which lead to it becoming a primary area for action in Rockcorry Vision Plan 2030 - the first step on a journey towards dealing with dereliction in general and bringing about village regeneration.