Hometown Architect in Bailieborough, Co Cavan, aims to develop a design vision for a vacant town centre site to create a new street that would link the Main Street and a major local supermarket.
The site, identified in the Bailieborough Town Centre First Plan, is a premises on Main Street with a back-lands area that is derelict. The proposed new street would reanimate the derelict area by connecting Main Street to an existing carpark and supermarket. This intervention would enhance connectivity and mobility for pedestrians and vehicles between busy sites in the town, providing a convenient new route while also demonstrating sustainable reuse and conservation of the historic fabric of Main Street.
This is one of three projects selected for Hometown Architect 2024. The Bailieborough project proposal met the Hometown Architect brief by focusing on an opportunity or innovation for town centre regeneration in line with the Government of Ireland’s Town Centre First Policy. This policy aims to make town centres across Ireland viable, vibrant and attractive locations for people to live, work and visit.
The team for the Bailieborough Hometown Architect project is Bailieborough native Frank Cooney of Cooney Architects, Caroline Brady, Town Regeneration Officer with Cavan County Council, and Aidan Clarke, a well-established business owner in Bailieborough.
Speaking on behalf of the team, Caroline Brady stated: “We are excited to have the opportunity to work with the Irish Architecture Foundation in co-designing a truly collaborative, community led scheme that will regenerate and re-energise a key site within our town core and help to deliver on one of the key ambitions of our Town Centre First Plan. An exciting few months ahead for all involved!”
This is the second round of Hometown Architect, which supports collaborative regeneration projects by architects and community groups in small and medium sized towns outside of major urban centres. The Bailieborough project is one of three that have been selected for development funding of €10,000 each plus mentoring and practical support from the IAF’s experienced placemaking team. The other towns are Mountrath, Co Laois and Moville, Co Donegal.
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Photos by Barry Cronin. Top: Andrew Forde (Department of Rural and Community Development), Anne O’Toole (Cooney Architects), Frank Cooney (Cooney Architects), Caroline Brady (Cavan County Council), and Emmett Scanlon (Irish Architecture Foundation).
Bottom: 1. Anthony Doogan (Reimagine Moville), Caroline Brady, and Frank Cooney. 2. Frank Cooney.
Hometown Architect is part of the Irish Architecture Foundation’s Reimagine programme, which aims to connect communities with architects to co-design and improve their local built environment. The Reimagine programme believes that local insight and tacit knowledge from all stakeholders are integral to developing solutions for our urban spaces, fostering a sense of agency, ownership, and pride among participants.
Funded by the Arts Council and Department of Rural and Community Development, with additional support to the Irish Architecture Foundation from the Department of Housing, Local Government, and Heritage. This project aligns with the national Town Centre First policy, which aims to revitalise towns across Ireland, building and sustaining vibrant town centres where communities can flourish.
