The initiative, valued at €13,529,935, aims to improve community infrastructure and amenities within the Village Centre. It includes the development of a new central hub supporting community life, thereby fostering Creeslough's transformation into a vibrant, healthy, well-served, socially inclusive and sustainable community. This project aligns with the Village Plan, officially unveiled in March 2024, dedicated to improving and regenerating the village. Donegal County Council will contribute a co-funding balance of €1,352,093 towards this scheme.
Whilst welcoming the funding announcement, Mr. Liam Ward, Director of Community Development and Planning Services, Donegal County Council and Chairperson of the Creeslough Working Group, acknowledged the role of the Creeslough Community Association, the Trustees (of the Field), ARUP and his colleagues in Donegal County Council and the Creeslough Working Group for their commitment, energy and leadership in progressing the Creeslough Community Regeneration Project to this important milestone.
Mr Ward added that "the Council remains conscious at all times of the tragedy which occurred in the Village on 7th October 2022 and the challenge that this remains for the entire community and everyone affected by those tragic events". He noted that Donegal County Council intends "at all times in its Creeslough community work to respect the wishes, privacy, personal grief and dignity of the families and the wider community and will strive to do so as this project moves forward."
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Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council, Cllr. Martin Harley said: "I am delighted to welcome this positive news this morning. Much work has been accomplished over the past 12 months by community stakeholders and other agencies who have worked collaboratively with the Councils own Regeneration and Development Team to consult, design and position this community project for capital funding. This positive announcement today is welcome reward for their collective efforts and it is my sincere wish that it will be an importance source of hope and support to the community as it looks to the future. I wish to thank Minister Heather Humphreys TD, Minister for Rural and Community Development for this important and merited award for the Creeslough Community and I now look forward with great anticipation to the delivery of this ambitious and exciting project."
Mr John McLaughlin, Chief Executive of Donegal County Council stated: "The Council is committed to our rural communities and securing investment in the renewal and regeneration of our towns and villages and great progress has been made towards our regeneration ambitions under this Fund. The Council has applied significant and experienced resources to the consent, funding, procurement and delivery stages of large scale regeneration projects and now looks forward to supporting the Creeslough Community in the delivery of this important project. The next steps will see the Project now move through a process of due diligence, before procurement and detailed design stages lead to capital construction stage. The Council is well prepared to ensure that established momentum is maintained towards the detailed design and delivery stages of this project."
The Council acknowledges that the Rathmullan (Community & Heritage) Regeneration Project did not succeed in securing funding during the Fifth Call of the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund. However, the Council is unwavering in its dedication to advancing this project and is confident in its potential as a regeneration project. It will take the necessary time to review feedback from the application process alongside community partners and explore options for realigning the project to align with future eligible funding opportunities.
