Almost €4m for new Virginia Civic Centre

 

 

Almost €4 million has been provided for a new Virginia Civic Centre, under funding delivered through the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund.

The €3,963,525 announcement by Minister for Rural & Community Development Michael Ring is part of a national package worth €62 million to help deliver a total of 26 projects across the country.

The ambitious Virginia Civic Centre plan is considered a central part of the south Cavan Town's future regeneration, and will seen major redevelopment undertaken by the Council of both the Ramor Theatre and a former Parochial House next door.

Estimated to cost in the region of €4.5 million, the proposal would see the Parochial House converted into a new state-of-the-art Civic and Cultural Centre, accommodating a box office, exhibition space, canteen and offices, along with a new glazed entrance on Main Street to the Ramor Theatre.

Buildings to the rear of the Parochial House will be demolished to make way for a new two-storey shared foyer between it and the Ramor, and a new three-storey extension would be built to cater for a performance space on lower ground floor.

A two-storey protected structure, adjacent to the Parochial House, will be demolished to facilitate new vehicular access to a proposed 30-space car park.

Minister Ring's announcement redresses the disappointment felt locally when the project missed out on funding earlier this year after the Council failed to have the plan 'shovel ready' in time for application deadline.

Planning was not provided for the Virginia project when the application was submitted to the Department back in September 2018.

Part 8 planning for the project was only advertised in early January, with submissions closing on February 14 - the same day as Minister Ring made his funding announcement.

The project crossed the final planning hurdle when elected members in the Ballyjamesduff area approved the plan at their Municipal District meeting less than a week later.

In a statement to The Anglo-Celt at the time, a spokesperson for the Department noted that was not on merit that the proposal failed to gain traction, but as a result of the hang-up on planning.

Cavan-Monaghan TD Minister Humphreys welcomed the allocation in respect of the planned Virginia Civic Centre development, and also a further €2,611,150 to be provided for the Castleblayney Market Square Regneration project.

She expressed delight that over €6.5m had been committed to delivering two major infrastructure projects for the region.

“The [new Virginia Civic Centre] will be a focal point for the town and will drive increased economic and civic activity in the town centre,” Minister Humphreys suggested.

The Castlblayney allocation will meanwhile serve to provide a “superb new public area” in the centre of the Co Monaghan town, which will act as a “key focus of activity”.

“This will mean that both of the historic Gate Lodges in Castleblayney have been restored which is a wonderful step forward for Castleblayney.

“I have been delighted to work with my colleague, Minister Michael Ring, to support these two exciting projects and I want to commend the staff at Cavan and Monaghan County Council for submitting excellent applications,” she added.