Cllr Stiofán Conaty, Gabriel Hurson ( engineer ccc) , Cllr Clifford Kelly, Cllr Sarah O’Reilly (MD Cathaoirleach) Cllr Carmel Brady, Cllr Nial Smyth, Cllr Val Smith and Clinton Mulligan (MD Manager).

Former bank in Cootehill to become community hub

Approval for the project was provided for at last week's MD meeting.

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The former Bank of Ireland building in Cootehill is to become a new community facility for the town.

The building was purchased by Cavan County Council in 2022 for €200,000 and Part 8 planning was approved for its change of use during a meeting of the Bailieborough-Cootehill Municipal District last week.

Approval for the project was proposed by Cllr Sarah O’Reilly (Aontú) and seconded by Cllr Carmel Brady (FG).

“Cavan County Council bought the building in 2022 in a effort to bring new space onto the Main Street in Cootehill; it’s a building that has lain derelict over the last number of years and it is good that it will be a community hub for the people of the Cootehill area,” said Cllr O’Reilly who is currently the chair of the MD.

“This is fantastic for Cootehill and will help to transform an old heritage building into a community hub with spaces for various activities like a hen’s shed, men's shed, and youth space, all of which provides a great way to revitalise the town centre and provide something for everyone in the community.

It's wonderful to see efforts being made to preserve heritage while also creating spaces for community engagement and activities," added Cllr O'Reilly.

The planning permission provides for a community area, tourism exhibition area, training, counselling and board rooms, and two outbuildings that will be converted for both a men's and hen's shed along with the development of a community garden to the rear.

The main building is a protected structure. The development project is 90% funded by the 2022 Town and Village Renewal Scheme with the 10% balance contributed by Cavan County Council.

The Town and Village Renewal Scheme is one of a number of measures designed to rejuvenate rural towns and villages throughout Ireland. The 2022 funding rounds place particular emphasis on supporting projects that bring vacant and derelict buildings and sites back into use as multi-purpose spaces.

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