26 old buildings to be repurposed for 21st-century community use

‘Longford Skate and Recreational Park’ in Longford Town. Officially opened by Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, on Friday, February 16, 2024. Picture: Clare Frances Photography

Some years ago, a concerned senior drinks company executive told me that 11 public houses had closed on the route from Cork to Killarney. No doubt, a few more have gone since.

Reasons for pub trade decline have been well aired. The shut-down hostelry, once a magnet in a local community, but now shabby and neglected, is another symptom of general rural decline.

Small towns, villages and crossroads have lost a lot more shops than pubs, with many now derelict. And there’s the spectre of dwelling houses — once kept lovingly by proud owners — now deserted and overgrown with trees, windows broken, and roofs falling in.

Television programmes by architects such as Dermot Bannon and Hugh Wallace show what can be done with old, abandoned houses — and grants are now available for that work.

Some derelict buildings seem to have been in that state forever. There can, of course, be practical reasons for that. Owners may not be living locally, or there could be legal issues with the transfer of property after a death, while others could be left untouched for speculative reasons amid hopes of property price rises.

The widespread building of one-off houses in the countryside has also contributed to the decline of older settlements. Reversing that trend is a huge challenge.

There’s a lot to be said for restoring old houses in towns and villages, which often have plenty garden space at the rear, and proximity to schools, sports facilities, and other services.

Dublin politicians may not grasp rural issues but, as a TD for Cavan-Monaghan, Rural and Community Development Minister Heather Humphreys should understand.

Our Rural Future: Minister Humphreys announces investment of more than €4.5 million to tackle dereliction and vacancy in rural towns and villages 

She has announced €4.5m funding to tackle dereliction and vacancy in rural Ireland. According to the last census, there are 166,752 vacant buildings, many of them derelict, nationally.

The new scheme will see 26 old buildings repurposed for 21st-century community use — these include former garda stations, schools, post offices, parish halls, and business premises.

For instance, a boathouse, campsite, and community space will be provided in one site, in Villierstown, County Waterford, while an old pub in Tipperary town will be converted into a multi-purpose community space.

Considering the extent of dereliction, this is a proverbial drop in the ocean. However, it shows what can be done and might provide inspiration for other areas and projects.

Longford's first ever skate park is located on the site of the former greyhound track in the town.The project received funding of €405,000 under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme, a key element of the Government’s Rural Development Plan, ‘Our Rural Future’, which aims to make rural towns and villages vibrant places for people of all ages.  Picture: Clare Frances Photography

Some places have long since shown the way. Take the delightful West Cork town of Clonakilty where a 200-year-old old mill, now housing a library and offices, dominates the streetscape.

Then there’s the literary and heritage town of Listowel, County Kerry, noted for its colourful, artistic shopfronts and a restored 13th-century castle.