Historic Youghal in East Cork has been awarded €150,000 in capital funding by the Department of Culture, Heritage & Gaeltacht under the ‘Historic Towns Initiative Programme 2018’.
This follows a competitive process inviting local authorities to propose projects for heritage-led regeneration in one historic town in their area. Cork County Council’s nominee was Youghal, given the town’s very strong track record in caring for its heritage.
Youghal’s programme of works will see the repavement of Barry’s Lane, in the heart of Youghal’s Medieval Town and on the line of the Town Wall, extending to North Main Street. Barry’s Lane today stands as the focal point of the town centre, surrounding the Clock Gate Tower which recently opened as a visitor attraction. The works have potential to significantly enhance the visual amenity of the public realm in the vicinity, and will also see the installation of old red sandstone setts to mark the suspected subsurface line of the original Town Wall.
Speaking at the announcement, Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Josepha Madigan Minister Madigan said:
“I would like to congratulate the seven successful towns that will benefit from the Historic Towns Initiative 2018, which is funded by my Department and operated by the Heritage Council. These towns have come through a tough competitive process where all of the applications were of a very high standard. This funding will support the seven towns in their programmes of heritage-led regeneration and help them to build on their cultural heritage to drive investment in regeneration and renewal in their town
Also welcoming the award, Cork County Council’s Youghal based Senior Staff Officer, Helen Mulcahy noted:
“The East Cork Municipal District of Cork County Council is absolutely delighted to hear that Youghal’s application for funding under the Historic Towns Initiative 2018 has been successful and we have been awarded €150,000 for public realm works at Barry’s lane. I would like to thank The Department of Culture, Heritage & Gaeltacht and the Heritage Council for inviting us to apply and for awarding us such a significant grant. Barry’s Lane is the last section of the Market Square area to be re-developed and the area will be transformed into a beautiful public space. A special word of thanks to Aileen Murray of the Youghal Socio-Economic Development Group (YSEDG) who assisted with the application and also to Conor Nelligan and Mona Hallinan (Heritage & Conservation Officers, Cork County Council respectively) for their assistance also.
A competitive tendering process for the works is set to get underway with immediate effect, with all works set to be completed by the November deadline set out by the Department.
Other successful towns included: Portlaoise, Co. Laois, Kilmallock, Co. Limerick, Ballinrobe, Co. Mayo, Kells, Co. Meath, Castleblayney, Co. Monaghan, Carrick-on-Suir, Co. Tipperary.