The long-derelict Tuam Station House is set for a new lease of life as a modern enterprise and community hub, following confirmation that €6.6 million in funding has been secured through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF ). The funding, allocated by the Northern and Western Regional Assembly (NWRA ), will allow Galway County Council to bring the long-awaited project to the procurement stage.
The plans will see the historic building on Sean Purcell Road transformed into a vibrant centre for business and community life. Designs include individual enterprise suites, a podcast studio, a café, and a flexible multi-use space suitable for education, events, and cultural activities. It will be the first development to break ground under the wider Station Quarter Masterplan, a blueprint for the regeneration of the former railway lands.
Elected members of the Tuam Municipal District (MD ) gave their unanimous backing to the scheme at a meeting in late May, clearing the way for the council to move forward. Detailed designs will now be completed, with procurement of a contractor scheduled for early summer 2026.
Boost for Tuam
The project has been widely welcomed as a catalyst for local regeneration and as a significant investment in Tuam’s future.
Cathaoirleach of Galway County Council, Cllr David Collins (FG ), said the funding marked a significant milestone for the town. “Along with funding for Tuam Town Hall, over €10 million will now be invested in Tuam Town Centre projects, helping to keep our town centres vibrant and attractive. The Tuam Regeneration Masterplan is now bearing fruit, and long may it continue.”
Cathaoirleach of Tuam MD, Cllr Karey McHugh Farag (Ind ) added that community backing has been central to the project’s success. “There is widespread local support for this project, which will be a real boost for our town. I commend Galway County Council for involving elected members and the community in shaping the overall design. Once complete, the enterprise hub will create new jobs, vibrant community spaces, and opportunities that will benefit Tuam for years to come.”
Galway County Council’s chief executive, Liam Conneally, described the redevelopment as a vote of confidence in Tuam. “I warmly welcome this investment, which will allow the project to proceed to construction. This is a major vote of confidence in Tuam on a historic site in need of regeneration. Reopening an iconic heritage building for a mix of enterprise and community uses will create employment and new social spaces for local groups. I thank our elected members for their support and look forward to delivering this project for the people of Tuam.”
Director of services for planning and economic development, Liam Hanrahan, paid tribute to the council’s architectural team and partners.
“This historic building offers a unique opportunity to create a sustainable, contemporary urban space in Tuam’s town centre, aligned with New European Bauhaus principles. We are grateful for the support of the wider community, including Irish Rail, Action Tuam, and Galway Rural Development,” he said.
The project is being developed under the THRIVE Town Centre First Heritage Revival Scheme, which aims to bring new life to vacant or under-used heritage buildings through renovation, renewal and adaptive reuse.
