Preasráiteas: Leabharlann Phobail Bhaile Mhic Andáin oscailte go hoifigiúil ag an Aire Calleary
Thursday, 23 July 2026
Minister Calleary officially opens
Thomastown Community Library, Kilkenny
- State of the art library building delivered through over €4 million in RRDF Funding in Thomastown
- Minister Calleary presided over a number of official openings during visit to Co. Carlow and Co. Kilkenny with investment totalling over €5 million
Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary TD, today (Thursday, 23 July 2026) officially opened the new Thomastown Community Library and visited a number of Department-supported regeneration and community projects across Counties Kilkenny and Carlow.
Supported by over €4 million in funding from the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF), the new library provides a state-of-the-art facility that features dedicated spaces for adults, children and teenagers, ICT and digital spaces with access to 3D printing, and community spaces for workshops and classes throughout the year.
Speaking at the opening in Thomastown, Minister Calleary said:
“It is a pleasure to officially open Thomastown’s new state-of-the-art community library and to witness another important milestone in the revitalisation of this vibrant town.
“Our public libraries play a vital role in the community – providing a safe and welcoming educational space for people of all ages. Revitalising Thomastown through the creation of this new library and community space in the town centre, will allow Kilkenny Library Service to expand their delivery of significant cultural, educational and social benefits and to provide new opportunities for the community, now and for future generations to come.”
Earlier in the day, Minister Calleary visited Tullow to view town enhancement works supported through the Town and Village Renewal Scheme (TVRS). The Department had approved almost €366,000 in funding to support the rejuvenation of Tullow town through improvements to the riverfront amenity area, St Austin’s Well and biodiversity garden, the provision of signage, a virtual heritage trail and a paint scheme.
Next, Minister Calleary visited Clonegal, where TVRS funding of €99,000 was approved to support the village enhancement project. This included a paint scheme, improved signage, upgrades to the Heritage Centre and enhancements to Wicklow Way Park.
At Carrigduff, Minister Calleary officially opened the new refurbished playground delivered with €250,000 in TVRS funding. This funding has supported the creation of a new and increased area for play with modern, accessible and inclusive equipment for community enjoyment.
Speaking in Carrigduff, Minister Calleary said:
“This new playground creates opportunities – for children to play safely, for families to spend time together, for people of all ages and abilities to stay active, and for the wider community to connect and thrive.”
Continuing his visit in St. Mullins, Minister Calleary viewed the village enhancement project which included public realm upgrades, improvements to footpaths in the Pilgrim’s Park, a paint scheme and wayfinding signage. TVRS funding of €117,000 was approved to support this project.
Travelling on to Co. Kilkenny, Minister Calleary officially opened the TVRS and LEADER funded Outdoor Intergenerational Inclusion Hub and Playground. Funding of €250,000 through the TVRS, and €100,000 in LEADER funding supported the development of an outdoor intergenerational activity hub in the centre of Gowran. The amenity will be designed to enable people of all ages to socialise, exercise and play in an inclusive, stimulating and safe outdoor environment.
Opening the playground, Minister Calleary said:
“For many years Gowran did not have any dedicated playground or sporting area for local families, children and older residents to enjoy. People had to travel outside the town to access recreational facilities that many communities take for granted.
“Today, that has changed. Standing here today it is difficult to imagine that this was once a piece of wasteland, a former dump site that had been long neglected. Now you have a vibrant, welcoming and accessible community space that the people of Gowran can be immensely proud of.”
Déardaoin, 23 Iúil 2026
Leabharlann Phobail Bhaile Mhic Andáin oscailte go hoifigiúil ag an Aire Calleary
- Foirgneamh leabharlainne den chéad scoth tugtha i gcrích trí mhaoiniú CAFT de bhreis is €4 milliún i mBaile Mhic Andáin
- Bhí an tAire Calleary i gceannas ar roinnt oscailtí oifigiúla le linn a chuairte ar Cho. Cheatharlach agus Co. Chill Chainnigh, le hinfheistíocht de bhreis is €5 milliún ar an iomlán
Inniu (Déardaoin, 23 Iúil 2026) d’oscail an tAire Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail agus Gaeltachta, Dara Calleary TD, Leabharlann Phobail nua Bhaile Mhic Andáin, agus thug cuairt ar roinnt tionscadal athghiniúna agus pobail a fuair tacaíocht ón Roinn ar fud chontaetha Chill Chainnigh agus Cheatharlach.
Le tacaíocht mhaoinithe de bhreis is €4 milliún ón Chiste um Athghiniúint agus Forbairt Tuaithe (CAFT), is áis den chéad scoth í an leabharlann nua ina bhfuil spásanna ar leith do dhaoine fásta, leanaí agus déagóirí, spásanna TFC agus digiteacha le rochtain ar phriontáil 3D, agus spásanna pobail i gcomhair ceardlann agus ranganna le linn na bliana.
Agus é ag labhairt ag an oscailt i mBaile Mhic Andáin, dúirt an tAire:
“Is pléisiúr é leabharlann phobail úrscothach nua Bhaile Mhic Andáin a oscailt go hoifigiúil agus cloch míle tábhachtach eile in athbheochan an bhaile bhríomhair seo a fheiceáil.
“Is lárnach an ról atá ag ár leabharlanna poiblí sa phobal – cuireann siad spás oideachasúil sábháilte fáilteacha ar fáil do dhaoine de gach aois. Le hathbheochan Bhaile Mhic Andáin tríd an leabharlann agus spás pobail nua seo a chruthú i lár an bhaile, beidh Seirbhís Leabharlainne Chill Chainnigh in ann breis buntáistí suntasacha cultúrtha, oideachasúla agus sóisialta a chur ar fáil agus deiseanna nua a thabhairt don phobal, anois agus do na glúnta atá le teacht.”
Níos luaithe sa lá, thug an tAire Calleary cuairt ar an Tulach chun breathnú ar oibreacha feabhsúcháin baile a fuair tacaíocht faoin Scéim um Athnuachan Bailte agus Sráidbhailte (SABS). D’fhaomh an Roinn maoiniú de bheagnach €366,000 chun tacú le hathbheochan bhaile na Tulaí trí fheabhsúcháin ar an láthair chonláistí cois abhann agus ar Thobar agus Gairdín Bithéagsúlachta Naomh Aibhistín, trí chomharthaíocht a chur ar fáil, trí chonair oidhreachta fhíorúil, agus trí scéim péinteála.
Ina dhiaidh sin, thug an tAire Calleary cuairt ar Chluain na nGall, inar ceadaíodh maoiniú SABS de €99,000 chun tacú le tionscadal feabhsúcháin an tsráidbhaile. San áireamh leis seo bhí scéim péinteála, comharthaíocht fheabhsaithe, uasghráduithe ar an Ionad Oidhreachta agus feabhsúcháin ar Pháirc Shlí Chill Mhantáin.
Ar an Charraig Dhubh, d’oscail an tAire Calleary an clós súgartha nua athchóirithe a tugadh i gcrích le maoiniú SABS de €250,000. Bhí an maoiniú seo ina thacaíocht chun láthair súgartha nua mhéadaithe a chruthú le trealamh nua-aimseartha inrochtana ionchuimsithe ar féidir leis an phobal sult a bhaint as.
Agus é ag labhairt ar an Charraig Dhubh, dúirt an tAire Calleary:
“Tá deiseanna á gcruthú leis an gclós súgartha nua seo – do pháistí chun súgradh go sábháilte, do theaghlaigh chun am a chaitheamh le chéile, do dhaoine de gach aois agus cumas chun a bheith gníomhach, agus don phobal i gcoitinne chun ceangal le chéile agus teacht faoi bhláth.”
Agus é ag leanúint lena chuairt i dTigh Moling, bhreathnaigh an tAire Calleary ar an tionscadal feabhsúcháin sráidbhaile, lena n-áirítear uasghráduithe sa réimse phoiblí, feabhsúcháin ar chosáin i bPáirc na nOilithreach, scéim péinteála agus treochomharthaíocht. Ceadaíodh maoiniú SABS de €117,000 chun tacú leis an tionscadal seo.
Ag leanúint leis go Co. Chill Chainnigh, d’oscail an tAire Calleary an Mol agus Clós Súgartha Idirghlúine Lasmuigh, dár tugadh maoiniú faoi SABS agus LEADER, go hoifigiúil. Tacaíodh le forbairt moil gníomhaíochta idirghlúine lasmuigh i lár Ghabhráin le maoiniú €250,000 tríd an SABS agus €100,000 i maoiniú LEADER. Dearfar an tsaoráid chun go mbeidh daoine de gach aois in ann teacht le chéile, aclaíocht a dhéanamh agus imirt i dtimpeallacht ionchuimsithe spreagúil shábháilte.
Agus é ag oscailt an chlóis súgartha, dúirt an tAire Calleary:
“Ar feadh blianta fada ní raibh clós súgartha nó láthair spóirt ar leith ar bith i nGabhrán a mbeadh teaghlaigh, páistí agus cónaitheoirí níos sine in ann sult a bhaint as. Bhí ar dhaoine taisteal amach ón bhaile chun úsáid a bhaint as saoráidí fóillíochta, arb iad an gnáthrud san iliomad pobal eile.
“Inniu, tá athrú tagtha air sin. Agus mé ag seasamh anseo inniu, is deacair an rud é a shamhlú gurbh fhásach é seo tráth, iarshuíomh dumpála a ligeadh i bhfaillí ar feadh tamall fada. Anois tá spás pobail bríomhar fáilteach inrochtana agaibh, ar féidir le muintir Ghabhráin a bheith an-bhródúil as.”