A number of vacant and derelict buildings in the County Longford village of Abbeyshrule have been transformed into a new hub.

The Yard Hub is a high-quality remote working hub which creates space for economic and enterprise development while improving the first impression of visitors to Abbeyshrule and County Longford as they travel along the Royal Canal Greenway.

This project was brought to life by the Department of Rural and Community Development, the local community and Longford County Council.

A group of local people came together to form The Yard Hub company. This group developed a vision of how they wanted to support the regeneration of their local community and the development of infrastructure for future generations.

The project partners Waterways Ireland provided the site which now incorporates the new remote working hub and a new service block. The service block contains showers and toilets that will be available to people using the Royal Canal and Royal Canal Greenway. The Yard Hub development is also delivering a new purpose-built home for the Abbeyshrule Canoe Club on site. This will allow the club to grow and expand and it will facilitate groups and individuals interested in the activity.

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Architects deBlacam and Meagher were appointed to design and deliver the development, a high-quality working space with an exceptional finish. The Yard Hub hosts two standalone offices, each accommodating up to four people; a larger office/shared working space; separate meeting room and a large co-working/event space that can also accommodate education and training. The Yard Hub forms an important addition to the network of existing remote working hubs. It also serves as an inspiration for other communities that are planning or developing facilities around County Longford.

Opening the facility on Wednesday, Minister Heather Humphreys said: "This is a stunning project and I'm sure it will be a huge boost for local workers and businesses. By bringing these derelict buildings in Abbeyshrule back into active use, this project is breathing new life into the area while addressing a clear need for the village. As well as the economic and social opportunities this project will bring, it will also add to the town's tourism offering."

Cathaoirleach of Longford County Council Cllr Turlough McGovern commented: "Projects like this one here in Abbeyshrule are a fine example of how, with a strong vision and a good community group behind it, our older derelict buildings can be rejuvenated and brought back to life to support the economies of our beautiful rural areas. Congratulations to all involved with The Yard Hub and may I wish it every success going forward."

Speaking after the opening, Senior Engineer for Waterways Ireland Jean Errity added: "Waterways Ireland were delighted to partner with Longford County Council and the community in Abbeyshrule in the development of the Yard Hub. This project has transformed a Waterways Ireland property into a facility that will benefit the local community and the general public alike, making Abbeyshrule a great place to live and work."

The Yard Hub in Abbeyshrule is co-funded by the Department of Rural and Community Development under the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF) as part of Project Ireland 2040, Longford County Council, and the Just Transition Fund.