THRIVE — Strand 1: Projects Awarded
THRIVE – the Town Centre First Heritage Revival Scheme- supports locally developed plans that take an integrated strategic approach to the regeneration of our towns and locally selected projects that assist in creating town centres that function as viable, vibrant, and attractive locations for people to live, work and visit while also functioning as the business, service, social, cultural and recreational hub for the local community.
The Strand One Call closed on the 5th of April 2024 with ten projects in key towns awarded feasibility funding across nine local authorities in the region.
Ballina – Walsh Street Barracks
Mayo County Council has secured €200k in funding to further develop plans, designs and carry out citizen engagement on Walsh Street Barracks with the aim of securing further capital funding in 2025 for the renovation and adaptive reuse of this heritage building.
The project will be an opportunity for citizens to engage with their Local Authority and contribute to the consultation to determine a sustainable end use for the building. The enhancement of this highly visible building in the heart of Ballina town will add not only tangible benefits of increased employment opportunities but also intangible benefits of place identity, pride of place and social cohesion as locals and visitors identify with the unique cultural offer in a transformed historic setting. Mayo County Council looks forward to partnering with key stakeholders to develop this site to provide facilities such as residential artists’ studios, galleries and teaching spaces.
Ballinasloe
Galway County Council has secured €130k to create a Ballinasloe Town Centre First Plan.
The funding will also facilitate citizen engagement and address, with equal importance, the Social, Economic, Commercial, Cultural, Historic and Environmental opportunities and challenges within the town. It will consider how to best incorporate these opportunities into a comprehensive strategy of interventions, proposals, and projects which will assist in the regeneration of the town centre, making it an attractive place to live, study, work and visit.
Tuam – Station Quarter
Galway County Council has also secured €200k in funding for Tuam to develop the “Station Quarter” Masterplan, including the redevelopment of the Station Building as outlined in the Tuam Regeneration Masterplan.
One of the key aims of the project is to secure further capital funding in 2025 for the renovation and adaptive reuse of heritage buildings in public ownership. The project will be an opportunity for citizens to engage with their Local Authority and have their say in the revitalisation of the Station Quarter area.
Carrick-on-Shannon – Town Hall
Leitrim County Council has secured €130k in funding to further develop plans, designs and carry out citizen engagement on the Town Hall in Carrick-on-Shannon with the aim of securing further capital funding in 2025 for the renovation and adaptive reuse of this heritage building.
The Town Hall is a protected structure and important heritage asset, its potential for redevelopment can add to the place-making of Carrick-on-Shannon. The project will be an opportunity for citizens to engage with their Local Authority and contribute to the consultation to determine a sustainable end use for the building. The Dock, a former courthouse, in Carrick-on-Shannon is an example of a publicly owned Heritage building that has been renovated and adapted for community use.
Cavan Town – Farnham Street
Cavan County Council has secured €200k in funding to create a Town Plan, carry out citizen engagement and develop plans & designs for heritage buildings on Farnham Street in Cavan Town. The key aim of this project is to secure further capital funding in 2025 for the renovation and adaptive reuse of a cluster of heritage buildings on Farnham Street which are currently vacant or underused. The project will be an opportunity for citizens to engage with their Local Authority and have their say in determining a sustainable end use for the buildings.
Galway City
Galway City Council has secured €200k in funding to create an Urban Design Strategy for the west area of the city centre, which will be focussed around the Galway Arts Centre building, at No.47 Lower Dominick Street and strengthening links with it and a planned creative space at Nun`s Island Theatre Site, as part of a wider agenda to revitalise heritage buildings and enhance the arts sector within the west area.
The Urban Design Strategy will be a multi-faceted strategy, based on collaboration with the local community, businesses and residents in the area, to identify and develop plans, projects and initiatives to help re-imagine the local area and to tackle regeneration, vacancy and dereliction.
Letterkenny – Former Courthouse
Donegal County Council has secured €200k in funding to further develop plans and designs and build on citizen engagement already carried out on the Former Courthouse in Letterkenny with the aim of securing further capital funding in 2025 for the renovation and adaptive reuse of this heritage building.
The project will engage a heritage/architectural-led, multi-disciplinary design team. In addition, this will be an opportunity for citizens and the community to further engage with the Local Authority and contribute towards the design process for the reuse of the Courthouse as a tourism-led project with potential to incorporate a number of themes from culture, community, the environment, climate and learning.
Monaghan Town
Monaghan County Council has secured €200k in funding to develop a Town Plan, carry out citizen engagement and identify heritage buildings in Monaghan Town with the aim of securing further capital funding in 2025 for the renovation and adaptive reuse of a heritage building in public ownership.
The development of an integrated plan based on the co-ordinated, strategic approach to town centre regeneration will incorporate the overall aim of creating viable, vibrant attractive locations for people to live work and visit. The project will be an opportunity for citizens to engage with their Local Authority and contribute to the consultation to determine a sustainable end use for the heritage building.
Roscommon Town
Roscommon County Council has secured €200k in funding to develop an Integrated Urban Strategy, carry out citizen engagement and identify heritage buildings in Roscommon Town. A key aim of the project will be to secure further capital funding in 2025 for the renovation and adaptive reuse of a heritage building in public ownership.
The built heritage of Roscommon Town is integral to fabric of the town core. A plan to protect, improve and develop assets that are under local authority control will contribute to the preservation of the cultural significance of these assets, whilst making a positive impact on the town and its citizens.
An assessment and feasibility study will be undertaken on two publicly own buildings in the town, namely Edenville House and Bank House (Former Motor Tax Office). This THRIVE project will be an opportunity for citizens to engage with their Local Authority and contribute to the consultation to determine a sustainable end use for the chosen building.
Sligo – Sligo Gaol
Sligo County Council has secured €200k in funding to further develop plans, designs and carry out citizen engagement on the Sligo Gaol with the aim of securing further capital funding in 2025 for the renovation and adaptive reuse of this heritage building.
Long vacant and derelict, this early 19th century Gaol is considered the best surviving Irish example of the ‘Panopticon’ form of prison design where occupants could be watched at all times. In use from 1818 until its closure in 1956, the Gaol at times housed some of the leading figures in more recent Irish history including Charles Stewart Parnell, Michael Davit, and Michael Collins.
The project will be an opportunity for citizens to engage with their Local Authority and contribute to the consultation to determine a sustainable end use for the building.
For more information on the THRIVE Scheme see THRIVE
