Cork County Council has announced that funding has been secured for improvement works in Skibbereen and Clonakilty.

Skibbereen has secured €1.8 million for public realm enhancement through the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF). The money will be used to reanimate the streetscape in Skibbereen town centre and install a new wayfinding scheme to make it easier for visitors and residents to navigate around the town.

The Skibbereen project includes the paving of footpaths, urban greening, installation of accessible street furniture, undergrounding cables, and installation of new street lighting. Additionally, plans involve creating a new raised paved area at Levis Quay and The Bridge area, serving as both a social seating space and a venue for community and cultural events.

Clonakilty is set to benefit from €200,000 under THRIVE, the Town Centre First Heritage Revival Scheme which allows Local Authorities and citizens to reimagine town centres though the renovation and reuse of publicly owned vacant or derelict heritage buildings.

The funding will support the development of an integrated urban strategy for Cork County Council-owned buildings and lands on Kent Street, a historically significant street in Clonakilty's centre. With several properties under its ownership along the street, the council will collaborate with the local community to shape this strategy.

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Welcoming the funding awards, Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr. Frank O'Flynn, said: "Our towns and villages are the lifeblood of rural Ireland. The Town Centre First Initiative is set to have a major impact on rejuvenating our communities in County Cork. I welcome both funding streams, which I have no doubt will help Cork County Council to engage with our citizens and empower the communities to shape the future of their town centres by identifying opportunities which will help ensure the long-term vitality of these areas."

Skibbereen was designated as a 'pathfinder town' under the national Town Centre First initiative. A regeneration plan, developed by Cork County Council in collaboration with local stakeholders and the dedicated Town Team, has been established. This plan delineates 35 objectives aimed at revitalizing the town centre, making it a lively, appealing destination for residents, workers and visitors alike. Additionally, the plan aims to enhance its role as a central hub for services, social activities, culture and recreation within the local community.

The RRDF funding directly supports 11 of the objectives and includes substantial public realm improvements to transform the fabric of the town, to support accessibility and sustainable travel and to complement other initiatives being undertaken by Cork County Council in the town.

THRIVE is co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union under the Southern, Eastern and Midland Regional Programme 2021-2027 and the Northern and Western Regional Programme 2021-2027. Cork County Council will strive to promote the values and working principles of the New European Bauhaus – an initiative of the European Union – in their strategies and projects to ensure these projects are sustainable, aesthetically pleasing, inclusive and accessible.

Valerie O'Sullivan, Chief Executive of Cork County Council, added: "THRIVE funding will facilitate the development and enhancement of an integrated urban strategy in Clonakilty, using a Town Centre First Approach and will assist Cork County Council in identifying suitable projects for potential capital investment. Likewise, RRDF funding will support the realisation of some of our Town Centre First plans in Skibbereen. I look forward to seeing the impact these schemes will have on both Clonakilty and Skibbereen and the resulting strengthening of the economic, social, and cultural vibrancy of both towns."