Preasráiteas: Tugann an tAire Calleary cuairt ar Liatroim i gcomhair roinnt oscailtí oifigiúla agus cuairteanna ar thionscadail
Press Release
Thursday, 15 October 2026
Minister Calleary visits Leitrim for a number of official openings and project visits
- Sod turned for €2.45 million Glenfarne Wood Rural Regeneration Project
Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary TD, today (Thursday, 15 October 2026) visited Leitrim to officially open several outdoor recreation sites, community facilities and regeneration projects.
The Minister also turned the sod on a €2.45 million project at Glenfarne Wood that is funded, in partnership with Coillte, through the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund.
The Minister began the day in Drumshanbo where he officially opened the Narrow Gauge Trail. With an investment of over €400,000 from the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme, the Narrow Gauge Trail follows the historic Cavan–Leitrim railway corridor and will provide tourists and locals alike with a new and accessible trail for walking and cycling.
Speaking at the opening, Minister Calleary said:
“It is a great pleasure to be here today to officially mark the completion of the Drumshanbo Narrow Gauge Trail, a project that demonstrates the real and lasting impact that investment in outdoor recreation can have on rural communities.
“Today we celebrate much more than the completion of a trail. We celebrate an investment in community wellbeing, heritage, recreation and rural tourism. Most importantly, we celebrate a project that will be enjoyed by people of all ages for years to come.”
Next, Minister Calleary presided over the official opening of the refurbished Drumkeerin Community Centre. €50,000 in CLÁR funding facilitated the enhancement works; which included the replacement of all windows and doors, and the installation of new floor tiling in the main hallway, toilets and kitchen.
At Glenfarne, Minister Calleary turned the sod to commence construction at the new Glenfarne Wood Rural Regeneration Project. Coillte has been allocated over €2.45 million in Rural Regeneration and Development Funding (RRDF) towards a new strategic project that will create a flagship outdoor recreation and tourism destination in North Leitrim. It will transform the woodland and lakeshore into a major visitor attraction within Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands. The works commenced will include a new trailhead building, expanded parking facilities, a new multi-access playground and a new sensory walk trail.
Speaking at Glenfarne, Minister Calleary said:
“I am delighted that the Glenfarne Wood Rural Regeneration Project is supported with over €2.4 million in funding from my Department’s Rural Regeneration and Development Fund.
“This significant investment will create a sustainable visitor destination of national significance, strengthen the tourism economy and promote economic growth, and supporting local communities.
“This is what we are all working together to achieve under Our Rural Future. It’s about making our rural places more attractive places to live, work, raise a family and invest in.”
Staying in Glenfarne, Minister Calleary officially opened the expanded carpark at the Rainbow Ballroom of Romance. Over €44,000 in funding was provided under the CLÁR programme to create a car parking area which is accessible and safe for all to use including people with limited mobility.
In his last engagement of the day, Minister Calleary officially opened the Manor Youth Hub. The previously vacant building in Manorhamilton was building was purchased by Leitrim County Council with funding of €150,000 under the Department’s Building Acquisition Measure before Town and Village Renewal Scheme (TVRS). Funding of €250,000 was used to deliver the first phase of the redevelopment of the building. Further funding of €132,000 under the Community Recognition Fund (CRF) in 2024 has been used to bring this project to completion and provide a fully accessible, dedicated youth hub in the centre of Manorhamilton.
Speaking at the opening of the Youth Hub, the Minister said:
“There was a clear vision from the outset to acquire this vacant building and give it a new purpose in the heart of Manorhamilton. This project demonstrates how different funding streams can be used together to deliver a significant project that may not otherwise have been possible.
“I want to wish all the young people who will use the Manor Youth Hub every success and enjoyment in this new space. I hope it becomes a place filled with friendship, activity and opportunity for you all.”
Preasráiteas
Déardaoin, an 15 Deireadh Fómhair 2026
Tugann an tAire Calleary cuairt ar Liatroim i gcomhair roinnt oscailtí oifigiúla agus cuairteanna ar thionscadail
- Iompaíodh an fód do thionscadal Athnuachana Tuaithe i gcoill Ghleann Fearna, ar fiú €2.45 mhilliún é
Inniu, Déardaoin, an 15 Deireadh Fómhair 2026, thug an tAire Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail agus Gaeltachta, Dara Calleary TD, cuairt ar Liatroim chun roinnt suíomhanna áineasa faoin aer, áiseanna pobail agus tionscadail athnuachana a oscailt go hoifigiúil.
Chuir an tAire tús freisin le tionscadal i gcoill Ghleann Fearna, ar fiú €2.45 mhilliún é, a mhaoinítear – i gcomhpháirtíocht le Coillte – tríd an gCiste Athnuachana agus Forbartha Tuaithe.
Chuir an tAire tús leis an lá i nDroim Seanbhó, áit ar oscail sé Conair an Iarnróid Chaoil go hoifigiúil. Le hinfheistíocht de bhreis agus €400,000 ón Scéim Bonneagair Áineasa faoin Aer, leanann an conair seo conair stairiúil iarnróid an Chabháin agus Liatroma. Conair nua inrochtana atá inti do thurasóirí agus do mhuintir na háite araon, le haghaidh siúil agus rothaíochta.
Ag labhairt ag an oscailt, dúirt an tAire Calleary:
“Is cúis mhór áthais dom a bheith anseo inniu chun críochnú Chonair Iarnróid Chaoil Dhroim Seanbhó a chomóradh go hoifigiúil. Is tionscadal é seo ina léirítear an tionchar fíor agus buan is féidir a bheith ag infheistíocht in áineas faoin aer ar phobail thuaithe.
“Inniu, déanaimid ceiliúradh ar níos mó ná críochnú conaire. Déanaimid ceiliúradh ar infheistíocht i bhfolláine an phobail, in oidhreacht, in áineas agus i dturasóireacht thuaithe. Rud atá níos tábhachtaí fós, déanaimid ceiliúradh ar thionscadail a mbainfidh daoine de gach aois taitneamh as sna blianta amach romhainn.”
Ansin, rinne an tAire Calleary cathaoirleacht ar oscailt oifigiúil Ionad Pobail Dhroim Caorthainn a athchóiríodh. Rinneadh oibreacha feabhsúcháin; lena n-áirítear athsholáthar na bhfuinneog agus na ndoirse go léir, agus suiteáil tíleanna urláir nua sa phríomhhalla, sna leithris agus sa chistin le €50,000 i maoiniú CLÁR.
I nGleann Fearna, d’iompaigh an tAire Calleary an fód chun tús a chur le tógáil ag an Tionscadal Athnuachana Tuaithe nua i gCoill Ghleann Fearna. Leithdháileadh breis is €2.45 mhilliún i Maoiniú Athnuachana agus Forbartha Tuaithe do Choillte i dtreo tionscadal straitéiseach nua a chruthóidh ceann scríbe suaitheanta caitheamh aimsire agus turasóireachta faoin aer i dTuaisceart Liatroma. Tarraingeoidh an choill agus bruach an locha go leor cuairteoirí laistigh de Chroílár na hÉireann. Áireofar ar na hoibreacha a chuirfear tús leo foirgneamh nua conaire, áiseanna páirceála a leathnófar, clós súgartha ilrochtana nua agus cosán siúil céadfach nua.
Ag labhairt i nGleann Fearna, dúirt an tAire Calleary:
“Tá áthas orm go bhfuil maoiniú os cionn €2.4 mhilliún á fháil ag Tionscadal Athnuachana Tuaithe Choill Ghleann Fearna ó Chiste Athnuachana agus Forbartha Tuaithe mo Roinne.
“Leis an infheistíocht shuntasach seo, cruthófar ceann scríbe inbhuanaithe do chuairteoirí a bhfuil tábhacht náisiúnta leis, neartófar geilleagar na turasóireachta agus cuirfear fás eacnamaíoch chun cinn, agus tacófar le pobail áitiúla.
“Seo an rud atáimid uile ag obair le chéile chun a bhaint amach faoi Ár dTodhchaí Tuaithe. Áiteanna tuaithe a dhéanamh níos tarraingtí le maireachtáil, le hoibriú, le teaghlach a thógáil agus le hinfheistiú iontu.”
Agus é i nGleann Fearna, d’oscail an tAire Calleary an carrchlós go hoifigiúil a méadaíodh ag Bálsheomra Grá Ghleann Fearna. Cuireadh breis agus €44,000 ar fáil faoi CLÁR chun limistéar páirceála a chruthú atá inrochtana agus sábháilte do chách, daoine a bhfuil soghluaisteacht theoranta acu san áireamh.
Ag an imeacht deireanach a bhí aige an lá sin, d’oscail an tAire Calleary Mol Óige go hoifigiúil. Cheannaigh Comhairle Chontae Liatroma foirgneamh i mBaile Hamaltúin – foirgneamh a bhí folamh roimhe sin – le maoiniú €150,000 faoi Bheart na Roinne um Fháil Foirgneamh, mar chuid den Scéim Athnuachana Baile agus Sráidbhaile. Úsáideadh maoiniú €250,000 chun an chéad chéim d’athfhorbairt an fhoirgnimh a chur i gcrích. Úsáideadh maoiniú breise dar luach €132,000, faoin gCiste Aitheantais Pobail in 2024, chun an tionscadal seo a thabhairt chun críche agus ionad tiomnaithe don aos óg a chur ar fáil i lár Bhaile Hamaltúin, ionad atá inrochtana go hiomlán.
Ag labhairt ag seoladh an Mhoil Óige, dúirt an tAire:
“Bhí fís shoiléir ann ón tús an foirgneamh folamh seo a fháil agus cuspóir nua a thabhairt dó i gcroílár Bhaile Hamaltúin. Léirítear sa tionscadal seo an chaoi ar féidir sruthanna maoinithe éagsúla a úsáid i gcomhar le chéile chun tionscadal suntasach a chur i gcrích – tionscadal a d’fhéadfadh a bheith dodhéanta murach sin.
“Guím gach rath ar na daoine óga go léir a bhainfidh úsáid as an Mol Óige sa spás nua seo. Tá súil agam go mbeidh sé ina áit atá lán de chairdeas, de ghníomhaíocht agus de dheiseanna daoibh go léir.”