Preasráiteas: DARÚ HQ – Mol Fiontraíochta Pobail Dharú oscailte go hoifigiúil ag an Aire Calleary
Press Release
Wednesday, 16 September 2026
Minister Calleary officially opens DARÚ HQ – Durrow Community Enterprise Hub
- Supported with €2 million in RRDF funding
- Transforming former Methodist Chapel and ICA hall into a community and arts infrastructure and provides remote working facilities
- Launches Laois Outdoor Recreation Plan
Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary, today (Wednesday, 16 September 2026) officially opened ‘DARÚ HQ’ – the Durrow Community Enterprise Hub in County Laois.
Supported with over €1.9 million of investment under the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF), the state-of-the-art facility transforms the historical former Methodist Chapel and ICA hall on Patrick Street into a multi-use community, remote working, and learning hub.
The new facility consists of a full refurbishment of the original heritage building along with a new two-story extension. The centre comprises a stage for events and performances and a large partitionable open space allowing the hosting of several events at once. It also includes separate offices and meeting rooms with desk spaces available for remote working that can be booked on the connectedhubs.ie platform. The centre includes a kitchen, restroom, as well as a standalone space for local classes and culture programmes, an upgraded outdoor amenities featuring EV charging and age-friendly seating.
The investment forms part of the government rural development policy Our Rural Future, which seeks to revitalise rural towns and villages, combat vacancy and dereliction and create vibrant sustainable local economies.
Minister Calleary said:
“It is a great privilege to be here with you this evening to officially open DARÚ HQ – Durrow Community Enterprise Hub, this transformative space brings new life into a historical local landmark, the former Methodist Chapel and ICA Hall, maintaining the heritage while delivering facilities for the modern workforce and community.
“Durrow is a perfect example of how the investment from the RRDF can support the sustainable development and regeneration of a town. This strategic investment provided through my department’s rural regeneration funds are revitalising our rural towns and villages, not only addressing vacancy and dereliction, but providing the essential infrastructure needed by rural communities.”
The Minister also took the opportunity to confirm the launch of a new Call for Proposals under the 2026 Town and Village Renewal Scheme. Two funding streams are available under this Call: the Main Scheme and the Project Development Measure with funding of up to €500,000 per project available.
The Minister said:
“The Town and Village Renewal Scheme continues to have a hugely positive impact in Ireland’s rural towns and villages and this investment will further strengthen this work.
“I am strongly encouraging local authorities to work closely with communities to put forward projects that are ambitious and will make a positive difference.”
Earlier on his visit to Durrow, Minister Calleary officially opened the Durrow Community Cycling Trail. Under the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS), €492,750 of Department funding supported the development of cycling and walking trail infrastructure, including 10km of upgraded trails which are inclusive and accessible and strengthening Durrow’s position as a premier outdoor recreation destination.
Also, during the visit to Durrow Community Cycling Trail, Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary TD, also launched the County Laois Outdoor Recreation Plan.
The County Laois Outdoor Recreation Plan was developed by the Laois County Outdoor Recreation Committee following consultation with key outdoor recreation stakeholders across the county.
Speaking at the launch, Minister Calleary said:
“I was delighted to provide funding through the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht to support the development of the County Laois Outdoor Recreation Plan. This plan provides a coordinated, county-wide framework to guide the future development of outdoor recreation throughout Laois.
“Laois is a county with enormous outdoor recreation potential. From the Slieve Bloom mountains, forests and peatlands to its rich network of walking and cycling routes, Laois provides excellent opportunities for residents and visitors alike to enjoy the outdoors. This plan will help build on these strengths in a sustainable way, making outdoor recreation more accessible so that communities across the county can enjoy the many health and wellbeing benefits associated with spending time outdoors and being physically active.
“I want to commend the work of the Laois Outdoor Recreation Committee in engaging with stakeholders across the county to develop this plan for the people of Laois. Without their collaboration, dedication and commitment, this important plan would not have been possible.”
Preasráiteas
Dé Céadaoin, 16 Meán Fómhair 2026
DARÚ HQ – Mol Fiontraíochta Pobail Dharú oscailte go hoifigiúil ag an Aire Calleary
- Le tacaíocht €2 milliún i maoiniú CAFT
- Bonneagar pobal agus ealaíon déanta den iarShéipéal Mhodhach agus halla Bhantracht na Tuaithe, le háiseanna cianoibre á gcur ar fáil
- Plean Áineasa Lasmuigh Laoise seolta
Inniu (Dé Céadaoin, 16 Meán Fómhair 2026) d’oscail an tAire Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail agus Gaeltachta, Dara Calleary, ‘DARÚ HQ’ go hoifigiúil – Mol Fiontraíochta Pobail Dharú i gContae Laoise.
Le tacaíocht ó infheistíocht de bhreis is €1.9 milliún faoin Chiste um Athghiniúint agus Forbairt Tuaithe (CAFT) san áis úrscothach seo, rinneadh mol ilúsáide pobail, cianoibre agus foghlama den tseanSéipéal Mhodhach agus halla Bhantracht na Tuaithe stairiúil ar Shráid Phádraig.
Is é atá i gceist leis an áis nua ná athchóiriú iomlán ar an fhoirgneamh oidhreachta bunaidh, in éineacht le síneadh nua dhá-stór. San ionad tá stáitse i gcomhair imeachtaí agus léirithe agus spás mór oscailte indeighilte, inar féidir roinnt imeachtaí a reáchtáil ag an am chéanna. Tá oifigí agus seomraí cruinnithe ar leith ann freisin, le spásanna deisce ar fáil i gcomhair cianoibre, ar féidir iad a chur in áirithe ar ardán connectedhubs.ie. Tá cistin agus seomra folctha san ionad freisin, in éineacht le spás aonair i gcomhair ranganna agus cláir chultúir áitiúla agus áiseanna uasghrádaithe lasmuigh, le luchtú d’fheithiclí leictreacha agus suíocháin aoisbháúla.
Rinneadh an infheistíocht seo mar chuid de bheartas forbartha tuaithe an rialtais, Ár dTodhchaí Thuaithe, atá dírithe ar bhailte agus sráidbhailte tuaithe a athbheochan, aghaidh a thabhairt ar thithe foilmhe agus dearóiliú, agus geilleagair áitiúla bhríomhara inbhuanaithe a chruthú.
Dúirt an tAire Calleary:
“Is mór an phribhléid í a bheith libh anseo tráthnóna inniu chun DARÚ HQ – Mol Fiontraíochta Pobail Dharú a oscailt go hoifigiúil. Cuireann an spás réabhlóideach seo beocht nua i sainchomhartha stairiúil áitiúil, an t-iarShéipéal Modhach agus Halla Bhantracht na Tuaithe, chun an oidhreacht a chaomhnú agus áiseanna a chur ar fáil don lucht oibre nua-aimseartha agus don phobal ag an am céanna.
“Is eiseamláir é Darú ar conas ar féidir leis an infheistíocht ón CAFT tacú le baile a fhorbairt agus a athbheochan go hinbhuanaithe. Tá ár mbailte agus sráidbhailte tuaithe á n-athbheochan tríd an infheistíocht straitéiseach seo, atá á chur ar fáil trí chistí athbheochana tuaithe mo Roinne, ní amháin trí aghaidh a thabhairt ar thithe foilmhe agus dearóiliú, ach tríd an mbonneagar riachtanach a theastaíonn ó phobail tuaithe a chur ar fáil.”
Ina theannta sin, thapaigh an tAire an deis le deimhniú go seolfar Gairm ar Thograí nua faoin Scéim um Athnuachan Bailte agus Sráidbhailte 2026. Tá dhá shruth maoinithe ar fáil faoin Ghairm seo: an Phríomhscéim agus an Beart Forbartha Tionscadail, le maoiniú de suas le €500,000 ar fáil in aghaidh an tionscadail.
Dúirt an tAire:
“Tá tionchar fíordhearfach fós á imirt tríd an Scéim um Athnuachan Bailte agus Sráidbhailte ar bhailte agus sráidbhailte tuaithe na hÉireann, agus neartófar an obair seo arís leis an infheistíocht seo.
“Molaim go láidir d’údaráis áitiúla oibriú go dlúth le pobail chun tionscadail a chur chun tosaigh atá uaillmhianach agus a dhéanfaidh difríocht dhearfach.”
Níos luaithe ina chuairt ar Dharú, d’oscail an tAire Calleary Conair Rothaíochta Pobail Dharú go hoifigiúil. Faoin Scéim Bonneagair Áineasa Lasmuigh (SBÁL), chuir an Roinn €492,750 ar fáil le tacú le bonneagar rothaíochta agus conaire siúil a fhorbairt, lena n-áirítear 10km de chonairí uasghrádaithe atá ionchuimsitheach agus inrochtana, agus a neartaíonn Darú mar phríomhcheann scríbe don áineas lasmuigh.
Ina theannta sin, le linn na cuairte ar Chonair Rothaíochta Pobail Dharú, sheol an tAire Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail agus Gaeltachta, Dara Calleary TD, Plean Áineasa Lasmuigh Chontae Laoise.
Is é Coiste Áineasa Lasmuigh Laoise a d’fhorbair Plean Áineasa Lasmuigh Chontae Laoise i ndiaidh comhairliúchán leis na príomh-gheallsealbhóirí áineasa lasmuigh ar fud an chontae.
Agus é ag labhairt ag an tseoladh, dúirt an tAire:
“Ba chúis áthais dom maoiniú a chur ar fáil tríd an Roinn Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail agus Gaeltachta chun tacú le forbairt Phlean Áineasa Lasmuigh Chontae Laoise. Cuirtear creat comhordaithe don chontae go léir ar fáil tríd an bplean seo, le bheith mar threoir d’fhorbairt an áineasa lasmuigh ar fud Laoise amach anseo.
“Is ollmhór an acmhainn áineasa lasmuigh atá ag Contae Laoise. Idir Shliabh Bladhma, coillte agus bogaigh, agus a líonra flúirseach bealaí siúil agus rothaíochta, is iomaí deis iontach atá i Laois, do mhuintir an chontae agus cuairteoirí araon, le sult a bhaint as a bheith amuigh faoin aer. Cabhróidh an plean seo leis na buanna seo a fhorbairt go hinbhuanaithe, lena ndéanfar an t-áineas lasmuigh níos inrochtana ionas gur féidir le pobail ar fud an chontae tairbhe a bhaint as an iliomad buntáistí sláinte agus folláine a bhaineann lena bheith amuigh faoin aer agus a bheith gníomhach go fisiciúil.
“Ba mhaith liom obair Choiste Áineasa Lasmuigh Chontae Laoise a mholadh as dul i gcomhar le geallsealbhóirí ar fud an chontae chun an plean seo a fhorbairt do phobal Laoise. Gan comhar, dúthracht agus tiomantas s’acu, ní fhéadfaí an plean tábhachtach seo a thabhairt i gcrích.”