Councillors get first look at copy of Muinebheag plan

MUINEBHEAG councillors were presented with a physical copy of the first draft of the Bagenalstown Town Centre Plan at the recent municipal district meeting.

The plan, which includes 17 projects such as a motorhome park, riverside plaza and a renewal of the old courthouse, aims to revitalise the town centre and make it an attractive place to live, work and visit.

Presenting the draft plan, Carlow Co Council’s town regeneration officer Nicola Lawlor said the process began in April 2024 when a public information session was held and, since then, there have been over 500 contributions to the plan from members of the public.

“The town team and the public in Bagenalstown have identified 17 fantastic projects,” said Ms Lawlor.

“All the works were carried out by the Muinebheag Town Team, up to when the consultants ACT (Accelerating Change Together) were appointed in September 2025. The next step is for everybody to take time to look through the draft plan,” she added.

The plan is not statutory; therefore, all proposed projects will be approved by the town team, with the council hoping to have an official launch later in the spring.

Ms Lawlor explained that some of the projects are ready to go and all that is left to do is wait for funding calls to be announced, after which the town team can then start to make their applications for the 17 projects.

One of the proposed projects is the delivery of a multi-use community and enterprise centre within Presentation Convent, which will transform the building into a vibrant hub offering flexible spaces for community services, cultural events, social innovation and more.

Ms Lawlor confirmed that ‘part eight’ planning permission, which allows local authorities to apply for planning permission for their own development projects, has been granted for the project at Presentation House and that work can begin immediately once funding is secured from the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund.

Cllr Willie Quinn asked how many of the projects would require part eight planning permission, with Ms Lawlor replying that on average about ten of the projects would need it.

Cllr Quinn also enquired whether the council would need to purchase any land for the plan’s projects, with Ms Lawlor confirming that everything in the plan is public land.

In response to cllr Tommy Kinsella’s question about the timeframe for the overall town plan, Ms Lawlor said that each proposed project was given a specific timeline, ranging from short term (0-5 years), medium term (5-10 years) and long term (up to 15 years).