Funding boost for Swords Castle

FINGAL County Council is to receive €1.47 million of EU funding towards the development of Swords Civic and Cultural Centre.

Last week, Minister for the Environment Alan Kelly along with Ministers Paudie Coffey (Housing), Paschal Donohoe (Tourism, Transport and Sport) and Heather Humphries (Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht) announced the details of funding allocations for specific projects under the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) Designated Urban Centre’s Grant Scheme 2014–2020.

A total of €40 million in grant assistance is being provided for local authorities for designated gateway and hub towns across Ireland.

Fingal County Council has welcomed the news that Swords is to be included in the funding. 

The council, in making its application, proposed three key elements of the Swords Castle development. 

The first of these include works to upgrade the castle as an all year round venue capable of hosting planned events which will be more accessible as both a heritage tourist attraction and public amenity. 

Secondly, derelict buildings on North Street, which partially block access around the castle, will be redeveloped to provide public facilities including interpretation of the cultural significance of the castle area, tourism information and a pedestrianised heritage route along the east wall of the castle. 

Thirdly, a public realm strategy will be developed and implemented in front of Swords Castle at the junction of Main Street and North Street. 

The projects will be completed within the three- year programme of the scheme with a combined cost estimate of €3 million.

Speaking at the funding announcement, chief executive of Fingal County Council Paul Reid said “This funding gives us great momentum in advancing the Architectural Masterplan for the Swords Castle Quarter that we developed in 2015 and is a significant boost to achieving the vision that we have for Swords as a vibrant urban centre and as the county-town of Fingal.

“Swords Castle and town centre are a place of cultural significance and the actions contained in the masterplan will energise the existing town centre, focusing on the castle environs as a new cultural hub.  

Mr Reid added: “This area will instil and foster a sense of place and civic pride and also act as a counterpoint to the shopping and business areas of the town.”

Mayor of Fingal Cllr David O’Connor also welcomed the announcement. 

“It further underpins and supports what we in Fingal County Council are trying to achieve in terms of using the county’s heritage assets in a sustainable way, both in terms of their tourism potential but also as civic and cultural amenities for the people of Fingal,” he said.

Minister Alan Kelly said: “I am delighted that sustainable urban development is being prioritised for funding, and that the investment being leveraged by these projects has the support of €40 million ERDF grants.”