Preasráiteas: Fód iompaithe ag an Aire Calleary ar na móroibreacha ar Ionad Cuairteoirí Cultúir agus Oidhreachta Mhainistir Bhaile an Tobair
Press Release
Friday, 19 June 2026
Minister Calleary turns the sod on the major works to the Ballintubber Abbey Culture and Heritage Visitor Centre
- Over €6.4 million in funding awarded under the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund
- Major redevelopment includes the restoration of the East Wing of the 800-year-old Abbey
- A new three-floor visitor and heritage visitor attraction will be delivered
Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary TD, today (Friday, 19 June 2026) turned the sod on a major development of the Ballintubber Abbey Culture and Heritage Visitor Centre.
This redevelopment, which has received over €6.4 million under his Department’s Rural Regeneration and Development Fund, will transform the historically significant abbey’s east wing, with conservation works to the chapter house and cloister, and will enhance the abbey grounds. The project has also been allocated Heritage funding from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
The project will restore and reconstruct the East Wing of the 800-year-old Ballintubber Abbey to house a three-floor cultural and heritage visitor attraction to tell the story and history of the Abbey and the Abbeys of Ireland.
Speaking at the sod turning today, Minister Calleary said:
“This project will see the restoration and regeneration of Ballintubber Abbey, an architecturally significant complex that has played a significant role in the local community over the centuries, to create a new state-of-the-art three-story Culture and Heritage Visitor Centre.
“The Ballintubber Abbey Culture and Heritage Visitor Centre project is a perfect example of what the RRDF is all about, supporting the vision of the community to create opportunities for economic and social vitality within rural Ireland.”
The project will encompass a modern Visitor Interpretative and Interactive Learning Centre, including gallery and exhibition spaces.
Works will also include conservation to the Chapter House and Cloister, as well as enhancements to the Abbey grounds.
Minister Calleary added:
“Strategic capital investment under the RRDF is helping unlock the enormous potential in rural Ireland, supporting regeneration and, in doing so, making places like Ballintubber better places to live, work, invest and visit.
“I look forward to following the project’s progress with interest and will be excited to see the Ballintubber Abbey Culture and Heritage Visitor Centre being enjoyed by visitors, both local and from further afield, for many generations to come.”
Minister for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity, Christopher O’Sullivan TD, also welcomed the sod turning, saying:
“I’d like to pay tribute to everyone involved in bringing this exciting project to this stage, and I’m delighted to be able to support it with €350,000 in funding from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. The built and archaeological heritage at Ballintubber Abbey and in the wider region is hugely valuable, and I am pleased that this project will help to ensure its continued protection, conservation and preservation.”
Preasráiteas
Dé hAoine, 19 Meitheamh 2026
Fód iompaithe ag an Aire Calleary ar na móroibreacha ar Ionad Cuairteoirí Cultúir agus Oidhreachta Mhainistir Bhaile an Tobair
- Maoiniú de bhreis is €6.4 milliún bronnta faoin Chiste um Athghiniúint agus Forbairt Tuaithe
- Rinneadh an Sciathán Thoir den Mhainistir, atá 800 bliain d’aois, a athchóiriú mar chuid den mhór-athfhorbairt
- Tabharfar ionad cuairteoirí agus oidhreachta trí stór i gcrích
Inniu (Dé hAoine, 19 Meitheamh 2026) d’iompaigh an tAire Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail agus Gaeltachta, Dara Calleary TD, an fód ar mhórfhorbairt Ionad Cuairteoirí Cultúir agus Oidhreachta Mhainistir Bhaile an Tobair.
Mar chuid den athfhorbairt seo, a fuair breis is €6.4 milliún faoin Chiste um Athghiniúint agus Forbairt Tuaithe de chuid a Roinne, déanfar athrú ó bhonn ar sciathán thoir na mainistreach, a bhfuil tábhacht stairiúil leis, déanfar oibreacha caomhnaithe ar an teach caibidle agus ar an chlabhstra, agus cuirfear feabhas ar thailte na mainistreach. Leithdháileadh maoiniú Oidhreachta ar an tionscadal ón Roinn Tithíochta, Rialtais Áitiúil agus Oidhreachta freisin.
Déanfar an Sciathán Thoir de Mhainistir Bhaile an Tobair, atá 800 bliain d’aois, a athchóiriú agus a atógáil le go gcuirfear ionad cuairteoirí cultúir agus oidhreachta trí stór isteach ann chun scéal agus stair na Mainistreach, agus Mhainistreacha na hÉireann, a insint.
Agus é ag labhairt inniu ag iompú an fhóid, dúirt an tAire Calleary:
“Leis an tionscadal seo déanfar athchóiriú agus athnuachan ar Mhainistir Bhaile an Tobair, a bhfuil suntas ailtireachta ag baint léi agus ról suntasach aici sa phobal áitiúil leis na céadta bliain, chun Ionad Cuairteoirí Cultúir agus Oidhreachta trí stór nua den chéad scoth a chruthú.
“Is iontach an sampla é Ionad Cuairteoirí Cultúir agus Oidhreachta Mhainistir Bhaile an Tobair de chuspóirí CAFT, eadhon tacaíocht d’fhís an phobail chun deiseanna a chruthú i gcomhair beocht eacnamaíoch agus shóisialta i gceantair thuaithe na hÉireann.”
Beidh Ionad Léirithe agus Foghlama Idirghníomhaí do Chuairteoirí mar chuid den tionscadal, le spásanna gailearaí agus taispeántais san áireamh.
Déanfar caomhnú ar an Teach Caibidle agus ar an Chlabhstra leis na hoibreacha, in éineacht le feabhsúcháin ar thailte na Mainistreach.
Dúirt an tAire Calleary an méid seo freisin:
“Le hinfheistíocht caipitil straitéiseach faoi CAFT, táimid ag baint tairbhe as acmhainn shuntasach na gceantar tuaithe in Éirinn, ag tacú le hathbheochan agus mar gheall ar sin, is fearr iad áiteanna mar Bhaile an Tobair le cónaí iontu, le hoibriú iontu, le hinfheistíocht a dhéanamh iontu agus cuairt a thabhairt orthu.
“Is le spéis a leanfaidh mé an tionscadal agus é á thabhairt chun cinn, agus tugann sé spreagadh dom go mbainfidh cuairteoirí, idir mhuintir na háite agus daoine ó níos faide i gcéin, go mbainfidh siad sult as Ionad Cuairteoirí Cultúir agus Oidhreachta Mhainistir Bhaile an Tobair sna glúnta atá le teacht.”
Chuir an tAire Dúlra, Oidhreachta agus Bithéagsúlachta, Christopher O’Sullivan TD, fáilte roimh iompú an fhóid chomh maith, agus dúirt sé:
“Ba mhaith liom ómós a thabhairt do gach duine ghlac páirt chun an tionscadal spreagúil seo a thabhairt chun na céime seo, agus is cúis áthais dom gur féidir liom tacú leis le maoiniú €350,000 ón Roinn Tithíochta, Rialtais Áitiúil agus Oidhreachta. Is fíorluachmhar atá an oidhreacht thógtha agus seandálaíochta i Mainistir Bhaile an Tobair agus sa cheantar mórthimpeall uirthi, agus táim sásta go mbeidh an tionscadal seo ina chabhair dá cosaint, caomhantas agus caomhnú leanúnach.”