Three important public space projects underway in Offaly
THREE important public space projects are currently underway in a number of towns in South and West Offaly.
During Monday evening's meeting of Birr Municipal District, the Town Regeneration Officer with Offaly County Council Olwen Cummins updated the Councillors on the various projects.
The Director of Services Ann Dillon praised Olwen and her team for carrying out “a huge amount of work,” including the administering of the Town Centre First Programme (tackling vacancy and dereliction), and the overseeing of the Croí Cónaithe grant (to assist the refurbishment of vacant properties). “They are a small team,” said Ms Dillon, “but they have got through a huge amount of work.”
Olwen said the upgrading of Ferbane Fairgreen is underway. “The building team recently went on site and the work has started,” she remarked. "The funding for this project is €250,000 which came from the Town and Village Renewal Scheme (TVRS) in 2023."
She said the upgrading work on Birr's Market Square is due to start this week or the next and residents have received flyers to this effect. “The grant is €250,000,” she commented, “and one of the aims of the work is to make the area more pedestrian friendly.”
She pointed out that the work on Kilcormac's Fiesta Hall is well advanced, both inside as well as outside; and showed the councillors photographs of the interior work. “Fiesta Hall received a TVRS grant of €500,000. A lot of building work has been done and the place is looking great. The works are nearing completion and the account will be submitted by Offaly Local Development Company to Offaly County Council. The final inspection will be carried out after we receive the final account.”
The Councillors responded very positively to Ms Cummins' update. Cllr John Leahy praised Olwen and her team on “the marvellous way your office, your team, has evolved and gone about its work over the last few years. You've done phenomenal work.” He added that the government's introduction of the vacant home refurbishment grant Croí Cónaithe was “a huge initiative. Croí Cónaithe is working very well.
“Everyone I speak to in Kilcormac is very happy about the work on The Fiesta Hall. This is the most important building in our town. It's very central, very visible and has a long history. Sadly it had become an eyesore and was crying out to be done up. Now it's looking great and in its new guise as the Green HQ for Offaly's Green Offaly initiative, will bring employment into the town, which is very important.
“Kilcormac Development Association has also received grants amounting to a total of €2 million,” Cllr Leahy continued, “but finding the match funding is very hard.
“At the moment in Kilcormac the big cry out is the need for a community amenity space in the town. The KDA has received planning permission for that amenity space, which will be on Main Street, and is now making a submission for funding for it.”
Cllr Hughie Egan said a “phenomenal amount of work is going on in Ferbane Fair Green. The diggers are there. It is great to see something happening at last. It was interesting to hear that the Local Property Tax is going towards this. Fergus McGarvey of Ferbane Tidy Towns is an architect and he has brought his skill to the Fair Green project. He's done great work. The Tidy Towns group are very happy with the upgrading work now being done. They are getting almost everything they wanted. The chat and chill part of the project is an excellent idea. It's good to see they are still keeping the front of the old Fire Station. I am excited about this project and how it's being done. When it's completed I think other towns will come to check out what we have done.”
“It's great to see these projects underway in Birr MD,” remarked Cllr Seán Maher. “They represent a significant amount of money being invested in South and West Offaly. The €250,000 grant for Birr town's Market Square was a welcome allocation.”
Cllr Audrey Hennessy Kennedy agreed. She said the Local Property Tax collected by the Council is going into these and other projects. “The LPT often gets such a negative media response but in fact it represents so much good,” she pointed out.