Cork County Council has been granted over €17.9 million in funding in respect of 3 rural regeneration projects in the towns of Bandon, Charleville and Macroom. The money will be used to rejuvenate the town centres, combat dereliction and drive economic growth.
The Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, has announced €115 million for 23 projects across the country under the Rural Regeneration Development Fund (RRDF).
North Cork Fine Gael Councillor John Paul O’Shea welcomed the announcement saying, “This represents significant investment in rural County Cork, and they will be transformational projects for the market towns of Bandon, Charleville and Macroom.”
“I am so pleased for Charleville as this is a project I have worked hard on with the Executive of the Council and the community in Charleville. I am really looking forward to seeing this project progress to the next stage.”
€5.2m for Charleville Town Centre Renewal: This project will see the renovation of several vacant and derelict buildings in the heart of the town. Charleville Courthouse will be renovated into a new remote working hub along with proposed enhancements of Community & Arts facilities within the town.
€7.2m for Macroom: This project is for a number of interventions in the centre of Macroom, including the refurbishment of the vacant St Colman’s Church as an arts, community, cultural and heritage facility. The project will conserve and re-establish Macroom town centre as the economic, cultural and community hub of the town.
Chief Executive of Cork County Council, Tim Lucey added, “This investment will help to strengthen the economic, social and cultural wellbeing of the towns and will generate increased economic activity in our town centres, as well as making the towns more attractive places to socialise and visit.”
