Tarmonbarry-based county councillor Tom Crosby has warmly welcomed the announcement of €150,000 in funding to progress the repurposing of the former Garda Station in the heart of Tarmonbarry village, a building which has remained closed since 2012.
Cllr Crosby, who was nominated by the Tarmonbarry Development & Tidy Towns Association to lead efforts to secure the building for community use, has been working closely with Roscommon County Council and the Tourism Office to bring the project to fruition.
Following discussions with the Office of Public Works (OPW), Roscommon County Council has successfully secured the building and agreed to lease it to the Tarmonbarry Development Association.
In collaboration with Tourism Officer Lisa Joy and her associates, Cllr Crosby presented the proposed plans to the local community in 2023. The community strongly supported the vision to transform the former public building into a Trailhead and Tourism Information Centre, incorporating a multi-purpose community facility for use by various local groups.
The proposed centre will feature a dedicated tourism hub (providing visitor information and serving as a central point for exploring the area’s attractions), community and meeting facilities (for youth groups, active age groups, and training initiatives), and a flexible space suitable for IT training, remote working, and local events.
Cllr Crosby stated that the recently announced €150,000 will fund the design, planning, costings, and feasibility reports required to prepare a full application to the Just Transition Fund. The total project cost is estimated at approximately €600,000.
“This is wonderful news, not only for Tarmonbarry but for the wider region – including Clondra in Co Longford – especially coming in the same week as the €5.1m investment announced for the Tarmonbarry-Rooskey shared cycle and walkway greenway,” said Cllr Crosby.
Cllr Crosby added, “This new tourism and community hub will be a game-changer for local tourism especially for those visiting the River Shannon. It will provide a welcoming focal point for visitors and an invaluable resource for the local community.”
A good news week for Tarmonbarry!
News of the repurposing of Tarmonbarry Garda Station follows last week’s confirmation of an investment of over €5m for greenway and outdoor recreation projects in County Roscommon.
Cllr Tom Crosby, the elected representative on the Roscommon Outdoor Recreation Committee, said €1.5m has been allocated for the development of a new greenway following planning approval by Roscommon County Council, with €3.6m awarded to Bord na Móna by Fáilte Ireland’s Regenerative Tourism and Placemaking Scheme to expand walking and cycling trails.
The €1.5m greenway project will see 7.8 kilometres of shared cycleway and walkway constructed across the townlands of Meelick, Derrymoylin, Cuilbeg, Slattagh More, Dooslattagh, Caul, and Cloonmore in the Tarmonbarry-Rooskey area.
The route will primarily follow approximately 7 km of the former railway line and will include: Three formal gateways and two rest points; Over 3,200 metres of screening for safety and environmental protection; Thematic experiences, including acoustic mirror and acoustic sponge features at historic narrow-gauge railway underpasses; Upgraded agricultural crossings, new fencing, and safety screening where required; Car and bicycle parking facilities, including electric vehicle charging points at selected locations.
The funding received by Bord na Móna will help develop up to 79 kilometres of new walking and cycling trails across suitable areas of the Bord na Móna landbank between Tarmonbarry and Rooskey.
Cllr Crosby paid tribute to all those involved in securing this investment, particularly his colleagues on the Roscommon Outdoor Recreation Committee, which includes senior representatives from Roscommon County Council, Bord na Móna, Fáilte Ireland, Inland Waterways, Roscommon LEADER Partnership, Coillte, and the Roscommon Tourism Office.
“This is wonderful news for Roscommon and for the communities of Tarmonbarry, Rooskey, and the surrounding areas,” Cllr Crosby stated. “These projects will deliver enormous benefits for tourism, outdoor recreation, and local economies across north Roscommon, the River Shannon, and neighbouring counties.”
Cllr Crosby also highlighted ongoing efforts by the Roscommon Outdoor Recreation Committee to further expand the region’s greenway network. Plans are underway to connect the Royal Canal Greenway which begins in Dublin city centre and travels through the midlands counties to Clondra Village across Tarmonbarry Harbour and integrate it into the new funded greenway network on Bord na Móna lands and redundant railway lines.
“This is just the beginning of a transformative period for outdoor recreation and tourism in Roscommon,” he concluded.
