Preasráiteas: An tAire Calleary le cuairt a thabhairt ar Thiobraid Árann agus an Clár i gcomhair roinnt oscailtí oifigiúla agus cuairt
Press Release
Friday, 24 July 2026
Minister Calleary to Visit Tipperary and Clare for a number of official openings and project visits
- Minister opens landmark €3.4 million RRDF regeneration project Thurles Market Quarter
- New search and rescue vessel launched in Bunratty to support life saving operations in the Shannon Estuary
Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary TD, today (Friday, 24 July 2026) visited Tipperary and Clare to officially open a number of community facilities and regeneration projects supported by the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht.
The Minister began the day in Thurles, where he officially opened the new Thurles Market Quarter, a landmark regeneration project supported by more than €3.4 million under the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF).
Speaking at the opening, Minister Calleary said:
“I am delighted to be in Thurles today, the birthplace of the GAA ahead of what is a very special GAA weekend with the All-Ireland Football Finals and what is even more special is to see this magnificent regeneration project that has taken place here.
“This project has revitalised a key town-centre location, providing new opportunities for local enterprise, live music, cultural activities, family events, exhibitions and community gatherings.
“RRDF is the flagship funding scheme in my Department and it is great to see what can be done when all stakeholders work together and I very much look forward to visiting other projects in the county today.”
The project in Thurles has transformed a vacant 19th-century agricultural building and car park to create the Thurles Market Quarter, including a vibrant multi-purpose civic space, covered market and thriving café space.
The Minister then officially opened the Loughtagalla Biodiversity Play Park, a community-led project, which has transformed the existing park into a safe, inclusive and accessible biodiversity play space for Thurles and the surrounding area through support from the LEADER Programme, the Community Climate Action Fund, Tipperary County Council and community fundraising.
Later in the morning, the Minister officially opened Carrig Community Park, a new community amenity developed with support of €176,000 through the Town and Village Renewal Scheme.
The Minister then visited St Ruadhan’s Hall and the SCEAL Community Shop and Café in Lorrha, recognising investment delivered through the Town and Village Renewal Scheme, LEADER, and CLÁR.
Speaking in Tipperary, Minister Calleary said:
“It is always a privilege to visit communities and see first-hand the impact that Government investment is having on towns and villages across the country. These projects demonstrate what can be achieved when local communities, local authorities and development organisations work together with Government to deliver lasting improvements for the people they serve.
“From restoring a vacant town centre building to provide a transformative multi-functional space, to inclusive playgrounds, community parks, rescue services and energy-efficient community facilities, these projects are creating places where people can meet, connect, work, volunteer and enjoy their local communities.
“The Government is committed to supporting sustainable rural development, ensuring that our towns and villages remain attractive places to live, work, visit and raise families. I look forward to meeting the many volunteers, community groups and local organisations whose commitment has made these projects possible.”
In Clare, Minister Calleary launched the Bunratty Search and Rescue’s new rescue vessel, Rineanna, alongside refurbishment works to the existing vessel SRK Saoirse. The investment has equipped the voluntary rescue service with modern, fully compliant vessels to support lifesaving operations on the Shannon Estuary.
The Minister also officially opened the newly refurbished Lahinch Playground and launch the Clare Outdoor Recreation Plan. The upgraded playground features a range of accessible and inclusive play equipment designed to provide high-quality recreational opportunities while withstanding the challenging coastal environment.
The day’s programme concluded with the official opening of Corofin Community Centre, where Community Centre Investment Funding has supported improved accessibility, safety and energy efficiency, including CCTV, retractable seating, solar photovoltaic panels and insulation works.
Preasráiteas
Dé hAoine, 24 Iúil 2026
An tAire Calleary le cuairt a thabhairt ar Thiobraid Árann agus an Clár i gcomhair roinnt oscailtí oifigiúla agus cuairteanna ar thionscadail
- Tionscadal athghiniúna suntasach CAFT €3.4 milliún, Ceathrú Margaidh Dhurlais, oscailte ag an Aire
- Árthach cuardaigh agus tarrthála nua seolta i mBun Raite chun tacú le hoibríochtaí tarrthála in Inbhear na Sionainne
Thug an tAire Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail agus Gaeltachta, Dara Calleary TD, cuairt inniu (Dé hAoine, 24 Iúil 2026) ar Thiobraid Árann agus an Clár chun roinnt áiseanna pobail agus tionscadail athghiniúna, a fuair tacaíocht ón Roinn Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail agus Gaeltachta, a oscailt go hoifigiúil.
Chuir an tAire tús leis an lá i nDurlas, áit inar oscail sé Ceathrú Margaidh Dhurlais go hoifigiúil, ar tionscadal athghiniúna suntasach é a fuair tacaíocht de bhreis is €3.4 milliún faoin Chiste um Athghiniúint agus Forbairt Tuaithe (RRDF).
Agus é ag labhairt ag an oscailt, dúirt an tAire:
“Is cúis áthais dom a bheith i nDurlas inniu, áit bhreithe an CLG, roimh dheireadh seachtaine an-speisialta CLG le Cluichí Ceannais Peile na hÉireann, agus rud níos speisialta fós ná an tionscadal athghiniúna galánta seo atá i ndiaidh tarlú anseo.
“De bharr an tionscadail seo, tá athbheochan tarlaithe i bpríomhshuíomh i lár an bhaile, lena gcruthófar deiseanna nua don fhiontraíocht áitiúil, ceol beo, gníomhaíochtaí cultúrtha, imeachtaí teaghlaigh, taispeántais agus ócáidí pobail.
“Is é CAFT príomhscéim maoinithe mo Roinne agus is iontach an rud é an méid ar féidir a bhaint amach nuair a oibríonn na geallsealbhóirí go léir le chéile, agus táim ag súil go mór le cuairt a thabhairt ar thionscadail eile sa chontae inniu.”
Faoin scéim i nDurlas, rinneadh foirgneamh talmhaíochta folamh ón 19ú haois agus carrchlós a athrú ó bhonn chun Ceathrú Margaidh Dhurlais a chruthú, ina bhfuil spás cathartha ilchuspóra spreagúil, margadh clúdaithe agus spás caifé bríomhar.
Ina dhiaidh sin, d’oscail an tAire Páirc Shúgartha Bhithéagsúlachta na Leacht Geal go hoifigiúil, ar tionscadal faoi stiúir an phobail é, inar athraíodh an pháirc ó bhonn ina spás súgartha bithéagsúlachta sábháilte ionchuimsithe inrochtana do Dhurlas agus an ceantar máguaird trí thacaíocht ó chlár LEADER, an Ciste um Ghníomhú Pobail ar son na hAeráide, Comhairle Contae Thiobraid Árann agus tiomsú airgid pobail.
Níos déanaí ar maidin, d’oscail an tAire Páirc Phobail na Carraige, ar saoráid phobail nua é a forbraíodh le tacaíocht €176,000 tríd an Scéim um Athnuachan Bailte agus Sráidbhailte.
Ina dhiaidh sin thug an tAire cuairt ar Halla Naomh Ruadháin agus Siopa Pobail agus Caifé SCEAL i Lothra, inar aithin sé an infheistíocht a cuireadh ar fáil tríd an Scéim um Athnuachan Bailte agus Sráidbhailte, LEADER agus CLÁR.
Agus é ag labhairt i dTiobraid Árann, dúirt an tAire Calleary:
“Is pribhléid i gcónaí é cuairt a thabhairt ar phobail chun breathnú le mo shúile féin ar an tionchar atá á imirt le hinfheistíocht Rialtais ar bhailte agus sráidbhailte ar fud na tíre. Léirítear leis na tionscadail seo cad is féidir a bhaint amach nuair a oibríonn pobail áitiúla, údaráis áitiúla agus eagraíochtaí forbartha le chéile leis an Rialtas chun feabhsúcháin mharthanacha a thabhairt i gcrích do na daoine ar a fhreastalaíonn siad.
“Idir fhoirgneamh i lár an bhaile a athchóiriú chun spás ilfheidhme bunathraitheach a chur ar fáil, agus clóis súgartha inchuimsitheacha, páirceanna pobail, seirbhísí tarrthála agus áiseanna pobail atá éifeachtúil ó thaobh fuinnimh, tá spásanna á gcruthú leis na tionscadail seo inar féidir le daoine buaileadh agus ceangal le chéile, obair agus obair dheonach a dhéanamh, agus sult a bhaint as a bpobail áitiúla.
“Tá rún daingean ag an Rialtas tacú le forbairt tuaithe inbhuanaithe, le cinntiú go leanann ár mbailte agus sráidbhailte de bheith ina n-áiteanna maithe le cónaí, le hoibriú, le cuairt a thabhairt orthu agus le teaghlaigh a thógáil iontu. Táim ag súil le buaileadh leis an iliomad oibrithe deonacha, grúpaí pobail agus eagraíochtaí áitiúla a mbeadh na tionscadail seo dodhéanta gan a ndúthracht.”
I gCo. an Chláir, sheol an tAire Calleary árthach tarrthála nua de chuid Seirbhís Cuardaigh agus Tarrthála Bhun Raite, an Rineanna, in éineacht le hoibreacha athchóirithe ar an árthach reatha SRK Saoirse. De bharr na hinfheistíochta, tá an tseirbhís tarrthála dheonach anois feistithe le hárthaí nua-aimseartha atá comhlíontach go hiomlán, chun tacú le hoibríochtaí tarrthála ar Inbhear na Sionainne.
Ina theannta sin, d’oscail an tAire Clós Súgartha an Leachta go hoifigiúil, a athchóiríodh le déanaí, agus sheol sé Plean Fóillíochta Faoin Aer an Chláir. Sa chlós súgartha uasghrádaithe, tá réimse trealaimh súgartha inrochtana inchuimsithe, a dearadh chun deiseanna fóillíochta ar ardchaighdeán a chur ar fáil agus an timpeallacht chósta dhúshlánach a sheasamh ag an am chéanna.
Tháinig deireadh le clár an lae le hoscailt oifigiúil Ionad Pobail Chora Finne, a fuair tacaíocht ó Chiste Infheistíochta na Lárionad Pobail i gcomhair inrochtaineacht fheabhsaithe, sábháilteachta agus éifeachtúlacht fuinnimh, lena n-áirítear ceamaraí TCI, suíocháin intarraingthe, painéil ghréine fhótavoltacha agus oibreacha inslithe.