Donegal County Council has welcomed the allocation of €12.1 million to Creeslough under the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund.
Liam Ward, the council’s Director of Community Development and Planning Services is Chairperson of the Creeslough Working Group.
This afternoon, he acknowledged the role of the Creeslough Community Association,the Trustees of the Field, ARUP and his council colleagues for their commitment, energy and leadership.
He said 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 said the project will deliver vital community infrastructure and facilities on an existing community site in the Village Centre, including a new central hub for community life that will support Creeslough on a journey towards a vibrant, healthy, well serviced and socially inclusive and sustainable community.
Chief Executive John McLaughlin said Donegal County Council is committed to securing investment in the renewal and regeneration of towns and villages, and great progress has been made towards the authority’s regeneration ambitions under this Fund.
Statement in full –
Donegal County Council welcomes funding for Creeslough Community Regeneration Project
Donegal County Council welcomes the announcement this morning that funding of €12,168,842 has
been approved for the Creeslough Community Regeneration Project under the Fifth Call of the Rural
Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF).
In 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 my own 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 said “that the Council remains conscious at all times of the
tragedy which occurred in the Village on 7 th October 2022 and the challenge that this remains for the
entire community and everyone affected by those tragic events” and “that the Council endeavours
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.”
The project, which has a total value of €13,529,935 will deliver vital community infrastructure and
facilities on an existing community site in the Village Centre, including a new central hub for
community life that will support Creeslough on a journey towards a vibrant, healthy, well serviced
and socially inclusive and sustainable community. It forms an integrated part of the Village Plan for
the renewal and regeneration of the village which was formally launched in March 2024. The co-
funding balance of €1,352,093 will be provided by Donegal County Council.
Welcoming the funding announcement 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.”
Acknowledging the funding announcement, Mr. John McLaughlin, Chief Executive of Donegal County
Council said “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 also wishes to acknowledge that on this occasion the Rathmullan (Community &
Heritage) Regeneration Project was not successful under the Fifth Call of the Rural Regeneration and
Development Fund. The Council remains committed to the development and progression of this
project and is confident in the strength of the project as a regeneration proposition. The Council will
take some time to consider feedback from the application process together with community
partners and to reappraise the options for repositioning this project towards future eligible funding
opportunities.
