Press Release – Rural Regeneration and Development Fund

Longford County Council welcomes the announcement made by Minister Ring of record funding of €4million for our county under the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund. Minister Ring announced funding of €62 million for 66 projects under the €1 billion Rural Regeneration and Development Fund, a key component of Project Ireland 2040 aimed at providing support to the revitalisation of rural Ireland and making a significant and sustainable impact on rural communities. 

Longford has been successful in securing funding for two major projects that will have a significant impact on the regeneration of the county and reaffirms the work that has been carried out by Longford County Council and the local communities in the enhancement of our towns, villages and wider county area to date. The successful projects are for €2.8million for the creation of a major tourism and amenity attraction at the base of Granard Motte, which will be transformational for Granard town and the north Longford region and €1.2m to enhance a wider town regeneration project within Edgeworthstown town centre, connecting key sites within the town and recreating a heart in the town centre.

Longford County Council has been working with the local communities and various stakeholders on the development of these projects over the last number of years and we welcome the recognition of the Department of this work. Work will commence in 2019 on these projects, creating immediate economic and visible improvements in these towns.

Cathaoirleach Luie McEntire thanked the Regeneration Team who worked very closely with the communities in developing the applications for funding and will support them in the delivery of these transformative projects.  He added "This funding will support the revitalisation of Granard and Edgeworthstown and make a significant and sustainable impact on these rural communities."  Paddy Mahon, Chief Executive, said "Investment in these towns will help build resilience and make them vibrant places for families to live and visit and for businesses to invest in.  We will continue to work closely with our communities to make Longford the place to be."