Preasráiteas: Tugann an tAire Calleary cuairt ar shraith tionscadal forbartha tuaithe i gCo. na Gaillimhe
Thursday, 14 May 2026
Minister Calleary visits a series of rural development projects in Co. Galway
Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary TD, today (Thursday, 14 May 2026) visited a series of projects across County Galway funded through the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht. These projects will deliver essential services and support local communities.
The Minister’s visit began in Clifden where he officially opened the new offices of Forum Connemara CLG, the local development company responsible for delivering a range of rural and community development programmes across the region. One of the organisation’s recent initiatives was the development of the Clifden Community Garden, which brought together local residents, members of the Ukrainian community and residents of the local IPAS centre through weekly gardening activities.
Speaking at Forum Connemara, Minister Calleary said:
“Forum Connemara carries out invaluable work in supporting communities across the region through programmes such as LEADER and the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme.
“These programmes provide rural communities with the resources and supports necessary to bring about meaningful local change, and this work would not be possible without the commitment and expertise of organisations like Forum Connemara. I am delighted to officially open these new offices and to support the continuation of this important work into the future.”
“The Community Recognition Fund has acknowledged the tremendous efforts made by communities in cities, towns and villages the length and breadth of the country in opening their doors to welcome those in need from communities across the world. I am delighted to see that this funding is delivering real benefits to communities across Galway.”
During the visit, Forum Connemara also showcased a number of projects approved under the 2023–2027 LEADER programme in West Galway. This included funding of over €13,000 for the West Connemara Community First Responder Group to purchase Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs), first aid equipment and PPE. Funding of over €47,000 was also approved for Cuanmara Consultancy Limited to support the development of specialist rural services relating to aquaculture, commercial diving and marine science.
The Minister also officially opened the refurbished Clifden Arts Festival office on Bridge Street, Clifden. With support of €50,500 provided through the Community Recognition Fund, refurbishment works were carried out to improve the functionality, accessibility and energy efficiency of the facility. The upgraded space will support a broad range of community and cultural activities including youth projects, visual arts initiatives, heritage events, Irish language activities and community meetings.
The Minister then travelled to Maam for the opening of a new community car park at Ionad Pobail an Mháma, supported under the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS).
The project received funding of over €177,000 and involved the construction of a new car park to support walkers using the Western Way, as well as a range of community and outdoor recreation events organised locally throughout the year.
Speaking at the opening in Maam, Minister Calleary said:
“The construction of this car park, funded under the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme, will improve accessibility for those enjoying the Western Way and support the many community events organised here throughout the year.
“Investment in outdoor recreation infrastructure continues to support local tourism, community wellbeing and regional economic activity, while also encouraging people to enjoy the many health and social benefits associated with outdoor activity.”
The final stop of the Minister’s visit was Leenane Community Park, where funding under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme and the CLÁR Programme has supported major improvements to the former Kilbride GAA pitch site. Works carried out at the park include upgraded walkways, seating areas, picnic benches and accessible parking facilities. Additional CLÁR funding also supported the installation of sensory play equipment to help ensure the park is accessible and enjoyable for all members of the community.
Preasráiteas
Déardaoin, an 14 Bealtaine 2026
Tugann an tAire Calleary cuairt ar shraith tionscadal forbartha tuaithe i gCo. na Gaillimhe
Inniu, Déardaoin, an 14 Bealtaine 2026, thug an tAire Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail agus Gaeltachta, Dara Calleary TD, cuairt ar shraith tionscadal ar fud Chontae na Gaillimhe a mhaoiníonn an Roinn Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail agus Gaeltachta. Soláthróidh na tionscadail seo seirbhísí riachtanacha agus tacóidh siad le pobail áitiúla.
Thosaigh cuairt an Aire sa Chlochán, áit ar oscail sé oifigí nua Fhóram Chonamara CLG go hoifigiúil, an chuideachta forbartha áitiúil atá freagrach as raon clár forbartha tuaithe agus pobail a sheachadadh ar fud an réigiúin. Ceann de thionscnaimh le déanaí na heagraíochta ná forbairt Ghairdín Pobail an Chlocháin, a thug le chéile cónaitheoirí áitiúla, baill den phobal Úcránach agus cónaitheoirí an ionaid áitiúil SCCI trí ghníomhaíochtaí garraíodóireachta seachtainiúla.
Ag labhairt ag Fóram Chonamara, dúirt an tAire Calleary:
“Déanann Fóram Chonamara obair luachmhar ag tacú le pobail ar fud an réigiúin trí chláir ar nós LEADER agus an Chláir um Chuimsiú Sóisialta agus Gníomhachtú Pobail.
“Soláthraíonn na cláir seo na hacmhainní agus na tacaíochtaí is gá do phobail thuaithe chun athrú áitiúil fiúntach a thabhairt chun cinn, agus ní bheadh an obair seo indéanta gan tiomantas agus saineolas eagraíochtaí ar nós Fhóram Chonamara. Tá áthas orm na hoifigí nua seo a oscailt go hoifigiúil agus tacú le leanúint leis an obair thábhachtach seo amach anseo.”
“Tugann an Ciste Aitheantais Pobail aitheantas do na hiarrachtaí ollmhóra a dhéanann pobail i gcathracha, i mbailte agus i sráidbhailte ar fud na tíre agus iad ag oscailt a ndoirse chun fáilte a chur roimh dhaoine atá i ngátar ó phobail ar fud an domhain. Tá áthas orm a fheiceáil go bhfuil an maoiniú seo ag tabhairt fíorthairbhí do phobail ar fud na Gaillimhe.”
Le linn na cuairte, chuir Fóram Chonamara roinnt tionscadal i láthair a ceadaíodh faoi chlár LEADER 2023–2027 in Iarthar na Gaillimhe. Áiríodh leis seo maoiniú de bhreis is €13,000 do Ghrúpa Céadfhreagróirí Pobail Iarthar Chonamara chun Dífhibrileoirí Seachtracha Uathoibrithe, trealamh garchabhrach agus trealamh cosanta pearsanta a cheannach. Ceadaíodh maoiniú de bhreis is €47,000 freisin do Cuanmara Consultancy Limited chun tacú le forbairt seirbhísí tuaithe speisialaithe a bhaineann le dobharshaothrú, tumadóireacht tráchtála agus eolaíocht mhuirí.
D’oscail an tAire oifig athchóirithe Fhéile Ealaíon an Chlocháin ar Shráid an Droichid, an Clochán, go hoifigiúil freisin. Le tacaíocht €50,500 á soláthar tríd an gCiste Aitheantais Pobail, rinneadh oibreacha athchóirithe chun feidhmiúlacht, inrochtaineacht agus éifeachtúlacht fuinnimh na háise a fheabhsú. Tacóidh an spás uasghrádaithe le raon leathan gníomhaíochtaí pobail agus cultúir, lena n-áirítear tionscadail óige, tionscnaimh ealaíon amhairc, imeachtaí oidhreachta, gníomhaíochtaí Gaeilge agus cruinnithe pobail.
Ansin thaistil an tAire go dtí an Mhám le haghaidh oscailt charrchlós pobail nua ag Ionad Pobail an Mháma, a fhaigheann tacaíocht faoin gCiste Infreastruchtúr Áineasa faoin Aer. Fuair an tionscadal maoiniú os cionn €177,000 agus bhí tógáil páirceála nua i gceist leis chun tacú le siúlóirí a úsáideann an Bealach Thiar, chomh maith le raon imeachtaí pobail agus caitheamh aimsire lasmuigh a eagraíodh go háitiúil i rith na bliana.
Ag labhairt ag an oscailt sa Mhám, dúirt an tAire Calleary:
“Feabhsóidh tógáil an charrchlóis seo, a mhaoinítear faoin Scéim Infreastruchtúr Áineasa faoin Aer, inrochtaineacht dóibh siúd a bhaineann taitneamh as an mBealach Thiar agus tacóidh sé leis na himeachtaí pobail iomadúla a eagraítear anseo i rith na bliana.
“Leanann infheistíocht i mbonneagar áineasa allamuigh de thacaíocht a thabhairt do thurasóireacht áitiúil, folláine an phobail agus gníomhaíocht eacnamaíoch réigiúnach, agus spreagann sé daoine chun taitneamh a bhaint as na buntáistí sláinte agus sóisialta iomadúla a bhaineann le gníomhaíocht faoin aer.”
Ba é Páirc Pobail an Líonáin stad deiridh chuairt an Aire, áit ar thacaigh maoiniú faoin Scéim Athnuachana Baile agus Sráidbhaile agus faoi CLÁR le feabhsuithe móra ar sheanláithreán páirce CLG Chill Bhríde. I measc na n-oibreacha a rinneadh sa pháirc tá uasghráduithe ar chosáin siúil, ar shuíocháin, ar bhinsí picnice agus ar áiseanna páirceála inrochtana. Thacaigh maoiniú breise CLÁR freisin le suiteáil threalamh súgartha céadfach chun a chinntiú go bhfuil an pháirc inrochtana agus taitneamhach do gach ball den phobal.