Funding of €100,000 has been pledged to enhance the County Cork town of Bandon.

This investment is part of the Streetscape Enhancement Initiative to help towns and villages in rural Ireland to become more attractive places to live, work and visit. Bandon is one of 26 towns across the country that will benefit from the €2.6m fund.

Retailers and property owners in Bandon are being invited to apply for grants to improve their business and shop fronts. Eligible projects include upgrades to building facades, artworks, murals, lighting, street furniture and canopies.

The Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr Danny Collins said: "Bandon is a fantastic, bustling market town with huge potential from a tourism and business perspective. The Streetscape Enhancement Initiative has been described as a facelift for our rural towns. There is an opportunity here for property owners in Bandon to collaborate and to paint their buildings in vibrant colours. It could be a chance to restore historic and traditional shop fronts, to install canopies, additional lighting or something as simple as planting trees, shrubbery and flower boxes. I hope that businesses in Bandon will take full advantage of the grant that is on offer."

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Chief Executive of Cork County Council, Tim Lucey added: "The initiative is part of Our Rural Future, the government's five-year strategy to revitalise rural Ireland. It includes a commitment to upgrade and enhance shop fronts and street facades in our towns and villages. When our streetscapes look better, it increases the pride and confidence in the area. Cork County Council is passionate about rural development, about supporting places like Bandon to make our town and village centres more attractive places to live, work, socialise, visit and run a business."