Preasráiteas: Tugann an tAire Calleary cuairt ar Chontae Ros Comáin chun tionscadail ar fiú breis agus €1 mhilliún a oscailt go hoifigiúil
Press Release
Thursday, 30 July 2026
Minister Calleary visits Co. Roscommon to officially open over €1 million worth of projects
- Minister Calleary officially opens new community spaces in Castleplunkett, Ballintober and Tulsk
- Addresses event marking 35 years of LEADER in Co. Roscommon
Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary TD, today (Thursday, 30 July 2026) visited Roscommon for a series of visits and official openings across the county.
Starting the day in Strokestown Park House, Minister Calleary delivered an address to the ‘Rooted and Growing’ conference, an event where practitioners, policymakers and academics explore the therapeutic value of nature for those receiving services within healthcare, social care and community settings.
Next, Minister Calleary travelled to Kilbride, where he addressed the crowd at the Roscommon LEADER Partnership Showcase Event, ‘LEADER through the Years’.
The showcase celebrates the impact of the LEADER Programme across Roscommon over the past three decades. It featured examples of projects supported under successive LEADER programmes from the pilot initiative in 1991 through to the current 2023 – 2027 LEADER Programme, including Roscommon Rapid Response, the Lough Ree Access for All project and Athlone Baysports Ltd.
Speaking at the showcase, Minister Calleary said:
“The LEADER programme has been a cornerstone of rural development policy in Ireland since being introduced by European Commissioner Ray MacSharry 35 years ago, and I want to thank all the stakeholders who have been involved in the delivery of LEADER here in Roscommon over the years.
“LEADER funding has provided rural communities with the necessary resources to bring about real change in their own local communities while supporting job creation, and improving social and economic wellbeing.”
Later, Minister Calleary officially opened the Ballymoe Slipway at Dundermot as part of the wider Suck Valley Waterways Project. Funded through the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS), the project received a grant of €180,000 towards the development of the cycling and kayaking facilities along the River Suck, including the wheelchair accessible jetty opened by Minister Calleary today.
The River Suck project also includes a 2km family friendly looped cycleway which links the Ballintubber Rambling Looped Walk, with its trails allocated near heritage sites and amenities.
Speaking in Ballymoe, Minister Calleary said:
“Roscommon is a beautiful county and with your hard work in partnership with Roscommon County Council and my Department, projects such as this waterway and looped cycle have made it so much easier for locals and visitors alike to enjoy the beauty on their doorsteps.
“Your vision for adventure tourism and safe trails builds a lasting, accessible legacy. You protect our environment while opening it up to all.”
Next, Minister Calleary officially opened the Ballintober Community Park and Recreational Amenity Area. The Ballintober Village Revitalisation Project, supported by almost €100,000 in Town and Village Renewal Scheme (TVRS) funding and two rounds of CLÁR funding in 2023 and 2024, has transformed a previously underutilised field adjacent into a vibrant community park and recreational amenity for people of all ages.
In Castleplunkett, Minister Calleary officially opened a new playground in the village. Delivered through €250,000 in TVRS funding, this project builds on the ongoing regeneration of a central area within Castleplunkett, transforming it into a welcoming and inclusive public space with an accessible play area.
Travelling to Tulsk, Minister Calleary officially opened a new walkway at Lord Edwards GAA Club. €50,000 of CLÁR funding has supported the construction of a community walking track around the perimeter of the playing pitch at the GAA Club, providing a safe, accessible and attractive outdoor amenity for walking, jogging, recreation and social interaction throughout the year.
At his final engagement of the day, Minister Calleary opened a new state-of-the-art childcare facility in Ballaghaderreen – The Growing Tree 4.
€500,000 in Community Recognition Fund (CRF) 2024 funding supported the conversion of a derelict and unfinished building into the Growing Tree 4, a purpose-built early years education and childcare facility in Ballaghaderreen with capacity for up to 70 children.
Speaking in Ballaghadereen, Minister Calleary said:
“Today marks an important milestone for Ballaghadereen and the wider community with the opening of this new state-of-the-art childcare facility. Inclusion is key in our modern world, and I am delighted to see that inclusion and diversity are to the fore here, where no one is left behind.
“Throughout my day travelling across the county, I have seen how my department is contributing to supporting our towns and villages through outstanding projects such as this one. I can truly say that the vision of Our Rural Future is closer than ever before.”
Preasráiteas
Déardaoin, an 30 Iúil 2026
Tugann an tAire Calleary cuairt ar Chontae Ros Comáin chun tionscadail ar fiú breis agus €1 mhilliún a oscailt go hoifigiúil
- Osclaíonn an tAire Calleary spásanna pobail nua go hoifigiúil i Lios Lachna, i mBaile an Tobair agus i dTuilsce
- Labhraíonn sé ag ceiliúradh 35 bliana LEADER i gContae Ros Comáin
Inniu, Déardaoin, an 30 Iúil 2026, thug an tAire Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail agus Gaeltachta, Dara Calleary TD, cuairt ar Ros Comáin le haghaidh sraith cuairteanna agus oscailtí oifigiúla ar fud an chontae.
Ag cur tús leis an lá i dTeach Bhéal na mBuillí, thug an tAire Calleary aitheasc ag comhdháil ‘Fréamhaithe agus ag Fás’ – ócáid ina ndearna cleachtóirí, lucht déanta beartas agus acadóirí iniúchadh ar luach teiripeach an dúlra dóibh siúd atá ag fáil seirbhísí i réimsí an chúraim sláinte, an chúraim shóisialta agus an phobail.
Ina dhiaidh sin, thaistil an tAire Calleary go Cill Bhríde, áit ar labhair sé leis an slua ag Ócáid Taispeántais Chomhpháirtíocht LEADER Ros Comáin, ‘LEADER trí na Blianta’.
Déantar ceiliúradh sa taispeántas ar an tionchar a bhí ag clár LEADER ar fud Ros Comáin le tríocha bliain anuas. Cuireadh samplaí i láthair ann de thionscadail a fuair tacaíocht faoi chláir LEADER éagsúla – ón tionscnamh píolótach sa bhliain 1991 go dtí Clár LEADER reatha (2023-2027) – lena n-áirítear foireann mhearfhreagartha Ros Comáin, tionscadal ‘Rochtain do Chách ar Loch Rí’ agus Spórt Bhá Átha Luain Teoranta.
Ag labhairt ag an taispeántas, dúirt an tAire Calleary:
“Is ar chlár LEADER atá beartas forbartha tuaithe na hÉireann bunaithe ó thug an Coimisinéir Eorpach Ray MacSharry isteach é 35 bliana ó shin, agus gabhaim buíochas leis na geallsealbhóirí uile a ghlac páirt i seachadadh LEADER anseo i Ros Comáin thar na blianta.
“Cuirtear acmhainní riachtanacha ar fáil i maoiniú LEADER do phobail thuaithe chun fíorathrú a thabhairt i gcrích ina bpobail áitiúla féin, agus ag an am céanna tacú le cruthú post agus feabhas a chur ar an bhfolláine shóisialta agus eacnamaíoch.”
Níos déanaí, d’oscail an tAire Calleary sleamhnán ag Béal Átha Mó i nDún Diarmada go hoifigiúil mar chuid de thionscadal níos leithne Uiscebhealaí Ghleann na Suca. Fuair an tionscadal deontas €180,000 faoin Scéim Infreastruchtúr Áineasa faoin Aer chun áiseanna rothaíochta agus cadhcála a fhorbairt feadh Abhainn na Suca, lena n-áirítear an ché a bhfuil rochtain ag úsáideoirí cathaoireacha rotha uirthi agus a d’oscail an tAire Calleary inniu.
Áirítear ar thionscadal Abhainn na Suca freisin cosán rothaíochta lúbach 2 chiliméadar atá oiriúnach do theaghlaigh; nascann sé seo Siúlóid Lúbtha Bhaile an Tobair lena chosáin atá suite in aice le suíomhanna oidhreachta agus áiseanna.
Ag labhairt dó i mBéal Átha Mó, dúirt an tAire Calleary:
“Is contae álainn é Ros Comáin, agus a bhuí le bhur gcuid oibre crua i gcomhpháirtíocht le Comhairle Chontae Ros Comáin agus le mo Roinnse, tá sé i bhfad níos éasca anois ag muintir na háite agus ag cuairteoirí araon taitneamh a bhaint as an áilleacht atá ar a dtairseach féin a bhuí le tionscadail ar nós an uiscebhealaigh seo agus an chosáin rothaíochta lúbtha.
“Cruthaíonn bhur bhfís don turasóireacht eachtraíochta agus do chosáin shábháilte oidhreacht bhuan inrochtana. Cosnaíonn agus osclaíonn sibh ár dtimpeallacht do chách.”
Ina dhiaidh sin, d’oscail an tAire Calleary go hoifigiúil Páirc Phobail agus Limistéar Áiseanna Caitheamh Aimsire Bhaile an Tobair. Tá an Tionscadal Athbheochana do Shráidbhaile Bhaile an Tobair – ar tugadh tacaíocht dó le beagnach €100,000 ón Scéim Athnuachana Bailte agus Sráidbhailte agus le dhá bhabhta maoinithe CLÁR in 2023 agus 2024 – tar éis páirc a bhí tearcúsáidte roimhe seo a athrú ina páirc phobail bhríomhar agus ina hionad caitheamh aimsire do dhaoine de gach aois.
I Lios Lachna, d’oscail an tAire Calleary clós súgartha nua sa sráidbhaile go hoifigiúil. Cuireadh an tionscadal seo i gcrích le maoiniú €250,000 ón Scéim; tógann sé ar an athbheochan atá ar siúl faoi láthair i lár Lios Lachna chun é a athrú ina spás poiblí fáilteach cuimsitheach ina bhfuil limistéar súgartha atá inrochtana do chách.
Ag taisteal go Tuilsce, d’oscail an tAire Calleary cosán nua ag Club CLG Lord Edward. Chuir maoiniú €50,000 ó CLÁR tacaíocht ar fáil do thógáil rian siúil pobail timpeall imlíne na páirce imeartha ag an gClub CLG, rud a sholáthraíonn áis lasmuigh atá sábháilte, inrochtana agus tarraingteach le haghaidh siúil, bogshodar, caitheamh aimsire agus idirghníomhaíocht shóisialta i rith na bliana.
Ag an gceann deireanach dá chuid imeachtaí don lá, d’oscail an tAire Calleary saoráid chúram leanaí nua den scoth i mBealach Doirín – ‘The Growing Tree 4’.
Chuir maoiniú €500,000 ón gCiste Aitheantais Phobail 2024 ar chumas foirgneamh tréigthe neamhchríochnaithe a thiontú ina shaoráid oideachais agus chúram leanaí luathbhlianta – ‘Growing Tree 4’ – a tógadh go sonrach chun na críche sin i mBealach Doirín agus a bhfuil acmhainn ann freastal ar suas le 70 páiste.
Ag labhairt dó i mBealach an Doirín, dúirt an tAire Calleary:
“Is sprioc thábhachtach í an lá inniu don Bhealach Doirín agus don phobal i gcoitinne agus an tsaoráid nua chúram leanaí seo, atá ar an gcaighdeán is airde, á hoscailt. Tá an cuimsiú ríthábhachtach inár ndomhan nua-aimseartha, agus is cúis áthais dom a fheiceáil go bhfuil an cuimsiú agus an éagsúlacht chun tosaigh anseo, áit nach bhfágtar aon duine ar lár.
“Le linn an lae agus mé ag taisteal ar fud an chontae, chonaic mé an chaoi a bhfuil mo Roinnse ag cur le tacaíocht dár mbailte agus dár sráidbhailte trí thionscadail den scoth ar nós an chinn seo. Is féidir liom a rá go fírinneach go bhfuil an fhís atá taobh thiar de ‘Ár dTodhchaí Tuaithe’ níos gaire ná riamh.”