Clogherhead has been chosen as one of 26 towns across the country as the location for a new Town Centre First plan to help redevelop derelict sites, improve community resources, protect historical landmarks and boost tourism.

The Plans which were developed in consultation with local communities represent the vision of local people for their area and contain proposals for a diverse range of projects such as redeveloping derelict sites, creating community parks and walkways, boosting SME and tourism potential, and protecting historical landmarks. 

New Town Regeneration Officers  have been appointed in every Local Authority to drive implementation of the new plans with the support of Government funding.

At the launch of the programme today, Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys, said: 

Communities are at the heart of rural Ireland. Town Centre First is all about empowering people to develop a vision for their town that can make it a better place to live, work, invest in and enjoy. These Plans and the new Town Regeneration Officers are about ensuring there is a strategic and coherent approach at local level to tackling vacancy and dereliction in our towns and villages. 

 “I am delighted to publish the first ever Town Centre First Plans today and I want to commend the local Communities and Town Teams for their work in developing these comprehensive locally-led plans. 

Local Deputy Fergus O’Dowd said Minister Humphreys has confirmed that €30,000 will be granted to Louth County Council to complete the comprehensive plan for Clogherhead to help regenerate and develop the area. 

“This is great news for Clogherhead and the wider area, Clogherhead is already an area of natural beauty and resource, but it has certainly suffered by a lack of cohesive planning” Deputy O’Dowd said. 

“In 2022 Dunleer was chosen as the designated location for phase 1 of the town centre first scheme and it is already reaping the benefits of the plan with coordinated and targeted funding being seen across a number of different areas. 

O’Dowd added “It was also confirmed that a new Town Regeneration Officer has been appointed to the council to help drive the implementation of the national and European funds available.  

“I will fully support the development of the plan and I look forward to seeing it implemented at the earliest opportunity.”