Four landmark heritage buildings in Sligo, Donegal, Monaghan and Galway have secured up to €27.6 million in funding under the Town Centre First Heritage Revival Scheme (THRIVE) which will see them transformed into vibrant community and tourism spaces.

The THRIVE scheme is part of the Northern and Western Regional Programme which is co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union.

Following notification by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Mr James Browne T.D, local authorities can now commence plans to bring long-vacant heritage buildings back into public use, transforming them into vibrant community, cultural, enterprise and tourism destinations. 

The projects awarded funding are:

• Sligo Gaol (up to €7m) will be redeveloped as a regional community and cultural tourism destination.
• Letterkenny Courthouse, Co Donegal, (up to €7m) will be adapted into a multi-use space for arts, education, leisure and cross-border tourism.
• St Louis Convent Chapel, Co Monaghan (up to €7m) will become a performance and community events venue, with new public realm works connecting it to the town centre.
• Tuam Station House, Co Galway (up to €6.6m) will be reimagined as a state-of-the-art enterprise hub and social space as part of the wider Tuam Regeneration Strategy.

The four projects will not only conserve important heritage assets but also deliver lasting social and economic benefits.

THRIVE had an initial allocation of €30.7 million to support local authorities to re-imagine town centres by repurposing publicly owned heritage buildings. Projects must embed the principles of the New European Bauhaus (NEB) – promoting solutions that are sustainable, inclusive and beautiful. The funding is contingent on projects meeting certain conditions.

The scheme was co-designed by the NWRA, the Southern, Eastern and Midland Regional Assemblies, and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, aligning with both European and national policy objectives.

The Northern and Western Regional Assembly has also confirmed that three other projects – in Mayo, Leitrim and Roscommon – have been placed on a reserve list from Strand Two THRIVE Projects and that those projects may proceed once additional funding becomes available.

Director of the NWRA, Conall McGettigan, hailed the awards and said the THRIVE scheme would transform town centres both aesthetically and economically. 

He added: “The Regional Assemblies’ support balanced regional development and the revitalisation of towns as outlined in our Regional Spatial and Economic Strategies. Today’s announcement is a positive example of the use of ERDF funding to assist heritage regeneration projects in some of our counties’ key urban centres, enabling local authorities and communities to revitalise a number of landmark heritage assets all over our region.”

NWRA Cathaoirleach Cllr Michéal Frain said: “I welcome the substantial funding announced today which will empower local authorities in our region to revitalise historic buildings in town centres, blending preservation with modern needs and guaranteeing these valuable sites remain useful for generations to come. The THRIVE projects referenced in today’s funding announcement will make a real difference.”

THRIVE

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