Minister Canney welcomes Town and Village Renewal funding for Galway East communities

Seán Canney TD, Minister of State for International and Road Transport, Logistics, Rail and Ports and Leader in Cabinet of the Independent Ministers, has welcomed the announcement of over €1 million in funding for Galway East under the 2025 Town and Village Renewal Scheme, with key projects in Ahascragh, Killimor, Portumna, Corofin and Athenry approved for support. In total, there is over €1.6m in funding for Galway towns and villages.

The funding was announced today by the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary TD, as part of a €26 million investment supporting over 100 projects nationwide aimed at revitalising town centres, tackling vacancy and dereliction, and strengthening rural communities.

In Galway East, three projects have been approved under the main Town and Village Renewal Scheme:

• Ahascragh has been awarded €250,000 to enhance the street front of the principal buildings both residential and commercial within the village, to welcome people in, promote pedestrian interaction, community engagement and environmental sustainability.
• Killimor has been awarded €214,550 to revitalise the village centre through enhanced shopfronts and facades, tackling vacancy and creating a more attractive, vibrant and economically resilient rural community.
• Portumna has received €500,000 to restore the Town Hall and Bridewell, safeguarding important heritage buildings while re-energising them as welcoming and inclusive community spaces.

In addition, two Galway East projects have been approved under the Project Development Measure, which supports the design and planning work needed to bring projects to construction stage:

• Athenry has been allocated €42,750 to progress detailed design, planning and costings for the refurbishment of an underused parochial hall in the centre of the town.
• Corofin has been awarded €45,572 to advance the next phase of amenity development in the local park, including design, planning and preparatory works ahead of a future capital application.

Welcoming the announcement, Minister Canney said: “This funding is very good news for Galway East. It supports practical, community-led projects that are about breathing new life into our towns and villages, making better use of existing buildings, and creating places where people want to live, work and spend time.”

“Ahascragh, Killimor and Portumna are seeing real, tangible investment that will strengthen their town and village centres, while the support for Athenry and Corofin ensures that well-planned projects are ready to move forward in future funding rounds. I want to congratulate all involved in bringing these projects to this stage.”

Note to Editors

Galway projects approved under the 2025 Town and Village Renewal Scheme – Main Scheme

• Ahascragh – €250,000 – Enhance the street frontage of the principal buildings both residential and commercial within the village.
• An Fhairche / Clonbur – €300,000 – Refurbishment of the community centre.
• Killimor – €214,550 – This community-led proposal seeks funding to revitalise Killimor’s village centre by enhancing shopfonts and facades, tackling vacancy and creating a more attractive, vibrant and economically resilient rural community.
• Leitir Móir – €300,000 – Enhancing Páirc Pobal Leitir Móir with inclusive play and green spaces.
• Portumna – €500,000 – Restoring Portumna’s Town Hall and Bridewell.
  
  

Galway projects approved under the 2025 Town and Village Renewal Scheme – Project Development Measure

• Athenry – €42,750 – Detailed design, planning and costing for a capital bid for funding for the refurbishment of an underused parochial hall in the centre of the town to bring the property back into use as a community facility.
• Corofin – €45,572 – Development cost associated with the provision of additional amenities in the park (Phase 3). Design and planning, costs of additional reports and the preparation of schedules for procurement prior to tender for capital funding.