Minister Calleary opens upgraded Community Centres in Kilkenny supported by the Community Centre Investment Fund

• Funding of over €93,000 for solar panels and toilet upgrades in Urlingford Community Centre
• St Kieran’s Community Hall, Johnstown received funding of over €94,000 for roof and external wall enhancement works

Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary, today (Monday, 22 June 2026) visited Co. Kilkenny to officiate at a series of openings for projects funded under the Community Centre Investment Fund (CCIF), aimed at strengthening communities and supporting regeneration across the county.

The visit began in Urlingford to officially open the Urlingford Community Centre, Co.

Kilkenny. Since 2022, funding of over €393,489 was provided to Urlingford Community Centre through the Community Centre Investment Fund. In 2022, €300,000 was approved for roof upgrades and external insulation. In 2024, over €93,000 was provided for toilet refurbishments, the installation of solar panels and community cinema equipment.

Speaking in Urlingford, Minister Calleary said:

“The works completed here in Urlingford have upgraded the internal facilities and transformed the energy efficiency of the building through the installation of solar panels which will assist the community into the future with energy costs.

“The Community Centre Investment Fund continues to transform communities nationwide both, urban and rural, through the provision of accessible, inclusive and welcoming facilities that bring young and old together.”

Next, the Minister travelled to Johnstown where Minister Calleary officially opened the newly refurbished St Kieran’s Community Hall, where funding of €94,020 was provided under CCIF 2024 to support upgrades to the facility’s roof and enhancement works to external walls.

Speaking today in Johnstown, Minister Calleary said:

“Today marks an important milestone here in Johnstown as the refurbished St Kieran’s Community Hall is opened following enhancement works. These works totalling over €94,000 have improved the fabric of the building, ensuring its continued role in community life in the area.

“Since 2022, over €280,000 has been provided to this facility under the Community Centre Investment Fund. I am delighted to see that the numbers in the community using this facility have increased by over 50%, demonstrating that this was money well spent.”

The Community Centre Investment Fund 2026 - Refurbishment measure is currently open to applications. The closing date for receipt of applications is 13 July, with funding of up to €100,000 available for upgrade and refurbishment works on existing community facilities.