Kilkenny's €1million community windfall welcomed

A funding bonanza for community enhancement projects in three Kilkenny towns has seen an investment of more than €1million in the county, this week.

Callan, Urlingford and Dunnamaggin are to benefit from the Town and Village Renewal funding, with a significant project earmarked for each community.

On top of that, increased funding has been announced for family resource centres, which will also support people in Kilkenny communities.

“These projects have come from local communities themselves and I am delighted to see such a diverse range of projects ranging from new town parks and playgrounds to the development of farmers markets and outdoor dining spaces,” Minister Humphreys said, announcing the funding.

“I am also pleased to see a number of successful projects which will see vacant and derelict buildings brought back into use and repurposed with community halls and youth centres being provided.”

On the same day, two Kilkenny communities heard they are to benefit from a decision to increase the core funding of family resource centres.
Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderic O’Gorman, has announced a new core funding levels for the centres, which will mean almost €70,000 for the county.

Long-awaited funding for the restoration of the King’s River in Callan was part of the Town and Village Renewal announcement.
Some €247,500 is to be allocated for a major ‘clean-up’ project on the river which will allow locals use the river for activities like fishing, kayaking and canoeing, and swimming.

Callan councillor Joe Lyons has welcomed the funding, which he has been campaigning for. “I am absolutely delighted to announce that after many years of hard work on a project close to my heart, central to our town of Callan that the King’s River will be restored to its former glory,” he said, announcing the news with Minister Humphreys.

A series of public meetings have taken place in the town, in recent months, with locals describing the river as ‘aesthetically shocking’ and public demonstrations had been threatened. Silt banks and overgrown vegetation are affecting locals’ enjoyment of the river that flows through the town.

There has also been a warm welcome for funding of €247,500 to create a community events space in Dunnamaggin.
Thanks to the new funding, a community green space will be transformed into an events amenity for the all to use.

Urlingford Community Centre’s refurbishment project has received a huge financial injection of €500,000. Work to make the parish hall fit for purpose began in recent years. The second phase will now be funded, including energy retrofitting, essential maintenance and roof repairs, improvement of kitchen and toilet facilities and improved disabled access.

According to Dympna Hayes, of Urlingford Town Team: “While our project to refurbish the old community centre is an ambitious one, having considered all options, the Town Team decided that this approach represents the best value for money option available to the local community.”

Cllr Mary Hilda Cavanagh said great credit goes to the Urlingford Town Team who played a huge role in making it happen. “It’s fantastic to have this facility in Urlingford,” she said.

Funding for the projects under the ‘Our Rural Future’ scheme has also been welcomed by Deputy John McGuinness.
“This is very positive news for Kilkenny and I’m delighted to see the hard work that is put into these projects is paying off with this substantial Government investment,” he said.

Resource Centres
Meanwhile, Minister, Roderic O’Gorman, has announced a new core funding level of €160,000 for Family Resource Centres (FRCs) - top up funding will now be made available to Droichead FRC in Callan (€34,181) and Mill FRC in Urlingford (€33,596).