Royal Longford welcome for Rural Affairs Minister to Abbeyshrule Yard Hub

Kavanagh's poem may have been written about the Grand Canal, but last Wednesday afternoon that celebration of the beauty of the commonplace was just as applicable to its Royal sister.

Abbeyshyrule basked in April sunshine as Minister for Rural and Community Development and Minister for Social Protection, Heather Humphreys, and her accompanying retinue marked the official opening of The Yard Hub.

This was the last stop off for the minister on a day that saw visits to Longford town's Department of Social Protection Offices, the openings of a community play area at Cullyfad Community Centre, Newtownforbes Bog Walk and Ardagh Remote Working Hub. There was also a photocall with CLÁR funded Irish Wheelchair Association Bus.

Abbeyshrule was abuzz; the opening of The Yard Hub was a big deal, and the Minister's visit an acknowledgement of the potential that can be realised by the social enterprise's goal to transform the local community.

The monastery of the river was a picturesque destination long before Longford county started to believe it had something to offer the tourist. The Yard Hub is a “renewal project” aimed at enhancing economic viability of what is, essentially, a rural area.
Approaching the village from the Mullingar side of the Royal Canal Greenway the redeveloped derelict buildings have created a new village hub, a space for economic and enterprise development.

The volunteers who have worked to bring the project to fruition believe the Hub will provide local people with an alternative to commuting to Dublin and other urban centres with remote employment alternatives.

The ethos of fostering a creative community, with a focus on IT learning, plays a strong role in where the future of this community enterprise lies. The Hub comprises three buildings, two previously employed as cattle byres, the most recent incarnation of the third was as a storage shed for canoes.

Their transformation has been remarkable. One of the features of the main building is a massive window that streams light into the meeting hall. For Minister Humphrey's address the room was packed, cheek by jowl, local volunteers, elected representatives of various hues and levels, local authority staff and well wishers filling the venue.

Council Cathaoirleach, Turlough McGovern, spoke of the beautiful setting, commending the work of volunteers: “It's a fantastic credit to the committee here,” he said.

Speaking on behalf of The Yard Hub directors and Abbeyshrule Community Group members, James Byrne, gave a potted history of how the Hub came about. He referenced the 2012 TidyTowns win, the 13th century BC Clonbrin leather shield that inspired the Hub's logo, and the origin of the buildings that now house the social enterprise.

“As a teenager I have fond memories of tending sick bullocks and regular TB testing in this yard,” he recalled, “Our local vet would regularly give out to us as the block wall of the cattle crush was too low. The bigger cattle had a habit of jumping over it.”

“Ireland is renowned for the strength of its local communities, people who are always striving to improve the quality of their local facilities and environment. None of this would be possible without the support of local and national governments.

Abbeyshrule is a living example of this. Life is a journey. This is especially so with TidyTowns, where you are always looking for the next project. You have to keep moving forward,” The Yard Hub director said.

Mr Byrne made particular reference to the support from Longford Chief Planner Donal Mac An Bheatha and Cllr Mick Cahill.
Community activist Ursula McGoey made a presentation of local honey to the special guest, and evoked great amusement recounting how the Minister was lured to the opening.

As Minister Humphreys was introduced to the podium there was an audible whisper: “She's lovely, isn't she?” The morning was a demonstration of just how personable the Fine Gael Minister is. She had shook hands and chatted her way across the county.
The Minister noted that a “strong emphasis on art” was a feature of the design of The Yard Hub. She said the project will “breathe new life into the area while addressing a clear need for the village”.

“As well as the economic and social opportunities this project will bring, it will also add greatly to the town’s tourism offering,” Minister Humphreys said, “These renovated buildings, with beautifully restored stone facades, now provide a positive first impression of Abbeyshrule for visitors along the Royal Canal Greenway.”

The Abbeyshrule social enterprise received €842,000 under the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund County Longford. The gathering was told the fund has provided €13.2 million for six Longford projects, with matched funding bringing the total spend to a total of €16.5 million.

Paddy Mahon, chief executive of Longford County Council, commended the work of the local authority Regeneration Team on the project. He said the possibilities presented by the development are boundless: “A key focus of Longford County Council is that everything is connected. The connections between people, places and the opportunities. A huge opportunity did arise here. It presents a huge opportunity and has real potential for the area.”

The Yard Hub in Abbeyshrule was co-funded under the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF) under Project Ireland 2040 and Longford County Council.