Kilkenny County Council
Town Centre First
The Town Centre First policy is a major cross-government policy that aims to tackle vacancy, combat dereliction, and breathe new life into our town centres. It supports “Our Rural Future”, Ireland’s rural development policy which is integral to our national economic, social, cultural, and environmental well-being. It advocates for a holistic, place-based approach to sustainable rural development. The Town Centre First policy was launched in February 2022.
The policy seeks to support towns of all sizes, recognising each town is unique and diverse and acknowledges that a “one size fits all” approach will not achieve sustainable and thriving communities.
Kilkenny County Council intends to carry out Town Centre First research and engagement across a number of towns and village settlements in the county to determine the key concerns, thoughts, opinions and ideas of local residents and visitors within the settlements.
1. Urlingford
In December 2021, as part of the national Town Centre First Policy initiative, Urlingford was identified as a ‘pathfinder’ town and funding was granted to Kilkenny County Council to develop a regeneration plan for Urlingford.
Kilkenny County Council adopted a Masterplan for Urlingford on the 18th September, 2023 at the Castlecomer Municipal District Meeting. The purpose of the Masterplan is to guide the development of Urlingford into the future and to influence and deliver on real change for the town in order to make it a more attractive destination in which to live, work, visit and do business.
The plan may be viewed at the following:
2. Graiguenamanagh
In 2024, €30,000 in funding for a town centre first plan for Graiguenamanagh was announced by the Department of Rural and Community Development. A Collaborative Town Centre Health Check of the town has been completed by the Town Regeneration Office of Kilkenny County Council which will inform the baseline of the Town Centre First Plan.
Graiguenamanagh-Collaborative-Town-Centre-Health-Check-Report.pdf (size 6.4 MB)
3. Castlecomer
In 2024, the Department of Rural and Community Development announced funding under the Town Centre First Town Team Support Fund of up to €10,000 for three towns to support the establishment and/or development of town teams where they are not already well established. Castlecomer, Mooncoin and Callan were selected under this funding to establish and develop a Town Team and to research the vitality, resilience and performance of the town centres.
A Collaborative Town Centre Health Check of the town has been prepared by the Town Regeneration Office of Kilkenny County Council in collaboration with the Castlecomer Town Team and various departments of the Local Authority.
Castlecomer-Collaborative-Town-Centre-Health-Check-Copy.pdf (size 5.6 MB)
4. Mooncoin
In 2024, the Department of Rural and Community Development announced funding under the Town Centre First Town Team Support Fund of up to €10,000 for three towns to support the establishment and/or development of town teams where they are not already well established. Castlecomer, Mooncoin and Callan were selected under this funding to establish and develop a Town Team and to research the vitality, resilience and performance of the town centres.
A Collaborative Town Centre Health Check of the town has been prepared by the Town Regeneration Office of Kilkenny County Council in collaboration with the Mooncoin Town Team and various departments of the Local Authority.
Mooncoin-Collaborative-Town-Centre-First-Health-Check.pdf (size 3.9 MB)
5. Callan
In 2024, the Department of Rural and Community Development announced funding under the Town Centre First Town Team Support Fund of up to €10,000 for three towns to support the establishment and/or development of town teams where they are not already well established. Castlecomer, Mooncoin and Callan were selected under this funding to establish and develop a Town Team and to research the vitality, resilience and performance of the town centres.
A Collaborative Town Centre Health Check of the town has been prepared by the Town Regeneration Office of Kilkenny County Council in collaboration with the Callan Town Team and various departments of the Local Authority.
Callan-Collaborative-Town-Centre-First-Health-Check.pdf (size 7.1 MB)
