Under LUC’s direction, a diverse team collaborated to shape the development vision for Tubbercurry. Tubbercurry was one of 26 towns selected to develop a Town Centre First Plan as part of the Irish government’s Town Centre First policy which aims to regenerate and revitalise Irish towns and villages.

The ultimate objective was to create a blueprint for a more attractive, functional, and economically viable town centre that would benefit residents, businesses, and visitors alike.

The vision fosters sustainable development and community vibrancy by improving public spaces, revitalising shop fronts, and repurposing derelict properties and land.

The community was empowered to create a Tubbercurry Town Team featuring representation from local community groups, sports groups, businesses and Elected Members.

Community involvement played a crucial role in the project. LUC facilitated a sequence of workshops enabling Tubbercurry residents to share their perspectives and experiences concerning the town’s evolution.

Experts from the University of Strathclyde supported the team in ensuring the community played a central role in decision-making, within the framework of the EU-funded initiative ‘Demotec’.

Through a combination of face-to-face and virtual workshops, 42 innovative ideas surfaced.

Assisted by LUC, the community prioritised these ideas into a shortlist, ensuring that the most meaningful proposals found a place in the Tubbercurry Town Centre First Plan.

Nine shortlisted projects were developed in greater depth to better understand how far each met the community’s objectives accompanied by a narrative on cost, timeframe, impact, and funding.

The Town Team will be instrumental in the future governance of the Town Centre First Plan.