After a long road it was a day for the communities of Newcastle and Moycullen to celebrate, in particular the hard-working committee who, for over 20 years, have been involved on the road that led to a €10 million announcement to deliver new community centres in Newcastle and Maigh Cuillinn. These new centres will support thousands of residents in Newcastle, Dangan, Bushypark, Maigh Cuillinn, and the many community groups and schools in the area.
Newcastle Combined Community Association are the promoters of the much-anticipated project and had a €4.34m funding request submitted under the newly created Community Centres Investment Fund within the Department of Rural and Community Development last July. Now following this week’s significant funding announcement, the project is expected to be delivered by the Autumn of 2025.
The Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, has announced an overall investment of more than €30 million, which will deliver 12 new community centres nationwide.
It’s the first time in the history of the State that a dedicated fund has been set up to deliver new-build community centres in rural Ireland. The successful community centre projects will receive capital grants of between €1 million and €6 million to build multi-functional centres in areas that currently lack community facilities. After providing funding of €45.8m to over 860 projects for refurbishments, Minister Humphreys decided to put a renewed focus on supporting communities that have no community centre at all.
Galway City Council has been awarded €4,343,255 for the new multi-functional community centre in Moyola Lane, Newcastle, Galway city and Udaras Na Gealtachta has been awarded funding of €6,000,000 for a new multi-functional community centre in Killarainy Woods, Maigh Cuillinn.
Fine Gael Councillor and Mayor of Galway City Eddie Hoare has welcomed the funding.
“This project has been in the offing for over 20 years. So many community volunteers have been involved in various capacities in this time. I’d like to personally acknowledge everyone who has played a role in pushing this project over the years. I would especially like to thank the late former promoters and directors Bartley Joyce and Tom Kelly who made a massive contribution to this cause,” he said.
“I was delighted to be asked to join the Committee in 2019 when elected to Galway City Council and have always highlighted this as one of my key priorities. We have always said this project is shovel-ready. It has the benefit of planning permission, is in the ownership of NCCA, it has comprehensive plans and costings completed and has received the full support of Galway City Council with the match funding element. The Board of Directors and Committee are determined to see this project delivered in the next 18 months. It is a long-awaited project and will be a fantastic amenity for thousands of residents.”
Mayor Hoare added; “Finally, I’d like to recognise the political support for this project over the last number of years. Fine Gael Deputy Leader Minister Heather Humphreys created this new fund as she knew projects like this based in a rural setting were being frozen out of funding. It is now key that a project team is assembled, tenders prepared and a contractor appointed to ensure this project is commenced and delivered in a timely manner. I’ll be working with the Promotors and Galway City Council to ensure this is the case” Mayor Hoare concluded.
Local TD and Government Chief Whip, Hildegarde Naughton, welcomed the granting of over €10 million to two Galway projects that will see the construction of new state-of-the-art Community Centres; “Residents of Newcastle/Dangan and Maigh Cuillinn areas have been campaigning for a Community Centre for many years and I am delighted to have my colleague Minister Humphreys in Galway today to announce these two projects.
“Last year Minister Humphreys created a new €20 million fund for the construction of new community centres across Ireland. Subsequently, the Newcastle Combined Community Association, with the support of Galway City Council, submitted a funding request.
Fobairt Pobail Maigh Cuillinn also submitted a request, with the support of Udaras na Gaeltachta. I have spoken to the Minister on numerous occasions since then emphasising the shovel ready nature of these particular projects. The sites are secured, the planning is in place and the designs are done. The final piece of the jigsaw, funding, is now in place and the projects can proceed without delay,” the Minister noted.
“It is vital that community groups and local organisations have access to meeting spaces, advice, information and guidance, educational, social and leisure opportunities and I am therefore delighted to see these projects delivered for the people of Galway,” Minister Naughton said.
The funding was also welcomed by senator Sean Kyne who said that he campaigned for the Maigh Cuillin centre for many years. He said that it will be a gamechanger for the community.
“The centre will act as an innovation hub and will be located close to the proposed greenway between the University of Galway and Moycullen. The project which will also involve installing roads and a pumpin station, will open up the 30 acres of community lands in the village also,” he said.
Cllr Mike Cubbard welcomed the Newcastle funding which he said he had helped progress during him time as Mayor of the city.
