Facelift fund for six Clare towns and villages

A FACELIFT is on the cards for six Clare towns and villages, three of them in the East and the South East of the county.
A pot of €7 million is to be shared among 124 areas across the country under the Streetscape Enhancement Initiative. In Clare, the beneficiaries will be Tulla, Scariff, Clonlara, Kilrush, Corofin and Clarecastle, where property and business owners will be invited to apply for funding.
The allocation will support a number of activities to brighten the appearance of towns and villages. These include strategic collaboration between property owners to paint buildings or shopfronts in vibrant colours and the commissioning of murals in towns and villages.
The funds also enable the upgrade or restoration of historic and traditional shopfronts; as well as the provision of street planting, shrubbery, trees and flowers boxes.
Enhancements through the illumination and lighting of architectural features can also be carried out, as well as the installation of canopies and street furniture and the decluttering of streetscapes with removal of items including unnecessary signage and wires.
Minister for Community and Rural Development, Heather Humphreys, said the funding was put in place to make rural towns and villages more attractive and welcoming places for locals and visitors alike.
“Whether it’s painting buildings in vibrant colours, upgrading shop fronts or installing canopies or street furniture – this fund will provide a welcome boost to rural communities the length and breadth of the country,” she said. “We all know that even the most modest of improvements to our buildings and streetscapes can make a huge difference.
“And so over the coming weeks, local authorities will work closely with businesses and property owners to give our towns and villages the facelift they deserve.”
The minister also encouraged business and property owners in the towns and villages selected to contact their local authority for details of making an application. I have no doubt the projects funded this initiative will make a huge difference to our rural towns and villages and, most importantly, the families who live there.”
Clare’s Fianna Fáil TD, Deputy Cathal Crowe said the funds would make a significant difference. “This is a really great initiative that can inject a new lease of life into towns and villages that are in need of a little TLC,” he said.
“It ensures that local property owners are encouraged and supported to ensure that their shop or building front is bright, clean and colourful – and as a tourist county this is something we need to ensure is front and centre.”
Deputy Crowe added that he looked forward to visiting each location and seeing what is done with these grants.”