Presidential hopeful Heather brings campaign to Carlow
Fine Gael's presidential candidate Heather Humphreys pictured at the construction site for the Tullow Road Community Hub with Catherine Callaghan TD and cllrs Fergal Browne and Ben Ward
PRESIDENTIAL election candidate Heather Humphreys recently visited Carlow to meet local community groups and inspect progress on a major community development project she helped secure funding for during her time in government.
The Fine Gael candidate’s visit on 23 September included a stop at the Hen’s Forge Women’s Shed at John Sweeney Park, where she met local women to discuss the services that the group provides to the community. The Women’s Shed, established last year, serves women of all ages from 20 to 80.
Speaking during her visit, Ms Humphreys highlighted her record of supporting such initiatives: “When I was minister for community development, I introduced a new funding stream under the Community Enhancement Programme specifically to support women’s sheds, ICA groups and other women’s organisations across the country.”
She added: “The women’s shed is a wonderful initiative and, as president, I want to promote it and support it to grow and thrive in communities across the country.” Ms Humphreys also met representatives from Carlow Regional Youth Services, including CEO Kathryna Wall.
The presidential candidate then visited the construction site of the Tullow Road Community Hub, a €4.3 million project she approved funding for while serving as minister for rural and community development. Carlow was one of 12 areas selected to receive funding for new community centres under what was the first dedicated fund established for new-build community facilities.
“I was delighted to support this project as minister and it’s great to see the work underway,” Ms Humphreys said at the site. “The local community are looking forward to benefiting from what will be a fantastic facility when it opens towards the end of next year.”
Catherine Callaghan TD, who accompanied Ms Humphreys on the visit, described the community hub as “a game changer for Carlow town and indeed for the residents of John Sweeney Park”.
Carlow Regional Youth Services will serve as anchor tenants in the new facility, and the Hen’s Forge Women’s Shed will relocate there once construction is complete. The project is being managed by Carlow County Council.
“The community hub is being built thanks to funding that the presidential candidate, when she was minister for community development, gave to Carlow town,” Ms Callaghan said, adding that the facility would make a difference “not just across Carlow town, but also across County Carlow”.
