Renewal scheme boost for seven local projects 

SEVEN projects in Fingal have been allocated €600,000 under the 2018 Town and Village Renewal Scheme.

Projects in Lusk, Balrothery, Rush, Naul, Portmarnock, Skerries and Portrane have been included in the allocation of €597,960 awarded to Fingal County Council.

Minister for Rural and Community Development Michael Ring announced total funding of €21 million under the 2018 Town and Village Renewal Scheme, a key part of the Government’s Action Plan for Rural Development.

The funding will allow the council progress the projects which aim to enhance and rejuvenate each of the seven towns and villages.

The Fingal allocations are:

•€200,000 for the development of a tourism hub in Lusk on a strategic site within the village. It will include the delivery of a permanent exhibition space themed on the ‘Life and Times of Thomas Ashe’, a key nationalist in the 1916 Rising and a central figure in the community of Lusk and the greater Fingal region;

•€100,000 for the enhancement of historic, commercial and recreational core of Balrothery, including the creation of new pedestrian linkages and street parking at the Balrothery Heritage Centre;

•€100,000 for the enhancement of Rush Main Street, including a Paint and Shopfront Improvement Scheme, and Signage Provision to rejuvenate and revitalise the main street;

•€36,800 for the interpretation of the life of Seamus Ennis in Naul to commemorate the centenary of the birth of the master uilleann piper and music collector;

•€72,000 for the Town Centre Enhancement of Floraville Park in Skerries to allow the park be used after sundown and provide comfortable seating for older people, while also fulfilling one of the intended objectives to provide a variety of artwork in the park, all by artists living in the town.

•€57,160 for the restoration of heritage stone walls at the southern entrance to Portmarnock village and the boundary wall of the former Jameson estate on the eastern side of Strand Road; and 

•€32,000 for Portrane Village enhancements to rejuvenate the appearance of the village and the green space area.

The council said it is delighted with the allocations which will help enhance rural towns and villages across the region, with a particular emphasis on stimulating economic development.

“We are looking forward to moving the projects forward which we believe will play a key role in revitalising and rejuvenating the seven areas,” said the council’s chief executive Paul Reid. 

Skerries-based councillor Cllr Tom O’Leary welcomed the grant for next stage of Skerries Floraville Park Development.

“I am delighted the Floraville Development Group in Skerries, including Martin Scully, Ollie Grimes and others, have been approved for a €72,000 grant from Minister Ring,” said Cllr O’Leary.

“This is great news for Skerries and the other towns and is recognition of the superb community work that goes on in each town.” 

Dublin Fingal TD Alan Farrell (FG) also welcomed the funding.

“Many community groups, and volunteers work throughout the year in our local towns and villages to maintain the beauty of our localities, and this funding will support, and build upon their work by supporting local projects, and working to ensure our communities are welcoming places to live and work,” said Deputy Farrell.