Minister Calleary visits Co. Roscommon to officially open over €1 million worth of projects

• Minister Calleary officially opens new community spaces in Castleplunkett, Ballintober and Tulsk
• Addresses event marking 35 years of LEADER in Co. Roscommon

Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary TD, today (Thursday, 30 July 2026) visited Roscommon for a series of visits and official openings across the county.

Starting the day in Strokestown Park House, Minister Calleary delivered an address to the

‘Rooted and Growing’ conference, an event where practitioners, policymakers and academics explore the therapeutic value of nature for those receiving services within healthcare, social care and community settings.

Next, Minister Calleary travelled to Kilbride, where he addressed the crowd at the Roscommon LEADER Partnership Showcase Event, ‘LEADER through the Years’.

The showcase celebrates the impact of the LEADER Programme across Roscommon over the past three decades. It featured examples of projects supported under successive LEADER programmes from the pilot initiative in 1991 through to the current 2023 - 2027 LEADER Programme, including Roscommon Rapid Response, the Lough Ree Access for All project and Athlone Baysports Ltd.

Speaking at the showcase, Minister Calleary said:

“The LEADER programme has been a cornerstone of rural development policy in Ireland since being introduced by European Commissioner Ray MacSharry 35 years ago, and I want to thank all the stakeholders who have been involved in the delivery of LEADER here in Roscommon over the years.

“LEADER funding has provided rural communities with the necessary resources to bring about real change in their own local communities while supporting job creation, and improving social and economic wellbeing.”

Later, Minister Calleary officially opened the Ballymoe Slipway at Dundermot as part of the wider Suck Valley Waterways Project. Funded through the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS), the project received a grant of €180,000 towards the development of the cycling and kayaking facilities along the River Suck, including the wheelchair accessible jetty opened by Minister Calleary today.

The River Suck project also includes a 2km family friendly looped cycleway which links the Ballintubber Rambling Looped Walk, with its trails allocated near heritage sites and amenities.

Speaking in Ballymoe, Minister Calleary said:

“Roscommon is a beautiful county and with your hard work in partnership with Roscommon County Council and my Department, projects such as this waterway and looped cycle have made it so much easier for locals and visitors alike to enjoy the beauty on their doorsteps.

“Your vision for adventure tourism and safe trails builds a lasting, accessible legacy. You protect our environment while opening it up to all.”

Next, Minister Calleary officially opened the Ballintober Community Park and Recreational Amenity Area. The Ballintober Village Revitalisation Project, supported by almost €100,000 in Town and Village Renewal Scheme (TVRS) funding and two rounds of CLÁR funding in 2023 and 2024, has transformed a previously underutilised field adjacent into a vibrant community park and recreational amenity for people of all ages.

In Castleplunkett, Minister Calleary officially opened a new playground in the village. Delivered through €250,000 in TVRS funding, this project builds on the ongoing regeneration of a central area within Castleplunkett, transforming it into a welcoming and inclusive public space with an accessible play area.

Travelling to Tulsk, Minister Calleary officially opened a new walkway at Lord Edwards GAA Club. €50,000 of CLÁR funding has supported the construction of a community walking track around the perimeter of the playing pitch at the GAA Club, providing a safe, accessible and attractive outdoor amenity for walking, jogging, recreation and social interaction throughout the year.

At his final engagement of the day, Minister Calleary opened a new state-of-the-art childcare facility in Ballaghaderreen – The Growing Tree 4.

€500,000 in Community Recognition Fund (CRF) 2024 funding supported the conversion of a derelict and unfinished building into the Growing Tree 4, a purpose-built early years education and childcare facility in Ballaghaderreen with capacity for up to 70 children.

Speaking in Ballaghadereen, Minister Calleary said:

“Today marks an important milestone for Ballaghadereen and the wider community with the opening of this new state-of-the-art childcare facility. Inclusion is key in our modern world, and I am delighted to see that inclusion and diversity are to the fore here, where no one is left behind.

“Throughout my day travelling across the county, I have seen how my department is contributing to supporting our towns and villages through outstanding projects such as this one. I can truly say that the vision of Our Rural Future is closer than ever before.”